Effect of Plant Density on Yield Components and Yield of Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L.) Varieties at Wolaita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia

Faba bean is one of the most popular pulse crops with manifold merits in the economy of the farming communities in the highlands and semi-highlands of Ethiopia. On the other hand, crop yield is functions of different growth and management factors of which optimum plant density is one of the paramount important. Basically, optimum plant density varies with genotypes, ecology, time of planting, production objective, cultural practices, water availability, and nutrients status of the soil. In this context, a field experiment was conducted during 2016 main cropping season at Wolaita Sodo Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training College farm in southern Ethiopia with objective of evaluating the effect of plant densities on performance of faba bean varieties. Treatments consisted in three faba bean varieties (Hachalu, Moti and Tumisa) and six level of plant densities (166,666, 222,222, 250,000, 333,333, 500,000 and 666,666 plants/ha) were combined in factorial and laid out in a randomized complete design (RCBD) with three replications. The longest days to flowering and physiological maturity were recorded for variety Tumisa at plant density of 166 666 plant/ha and both parameters were shortest for variety Moti at plant density of 666 666 plants/ha. The tallest plant height was obtained from the highest plant density and the shortest plants from the lowest plant density. The highest number of pods per plant, seeds per pod and HSW were recorded at plant density of 166 666 plants/ha and all parameters were lowest at the highest plant density. Grain yield increased for all varieties with increasing plant densities up to 250 000 plants/ha and then declined for further increase in plant density above it with the highest grain yield was recorded for variety Tumisa at plant density of 250 000 plants/ha followed by variety Moti at the same plant density. This finding revealed that all the varieties had the highest grain yield at plant density of 250 000 plants/ha where the variety Tumisa out yielded and followed by variety Moti. Varieties Tumisa and Moti at plant density 250 000 or 222 222 plants/ha could the best options for faba bean production. Keywords: faba bean, grain yield, yield components, density, varieties DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-5-07 Publication date:March 31st 201

Review on Milk Production: Recent Trends and Future Prospects in Relation to Past Trends in Ethiopia

Over the last decade following the political changes in 1993, the dairy sector in Ethiopia has shown considerable progress. Total milk production grew at an estimated rate of 3 percent as compared to 1.8 percent during the period of 1975-1992 due to technological intervention, policy reforms and population growth. The shift towards market economy is creating large opportunity for private investment in urban and peri-urban dairying. The large livestock population, the favorable climate for improved, high yielding animal breeds and the relatively disease-free environment for livestock make Ethiopia to have a significant potential for dairy development.  The indigenous breeds accounted for 98.20%, hybrids and pure exotic breeds were 1.62% and 0.18% respectively. The demand for milk and milk products is higher in urban areas where there is high population pressure. In Ethiopia, urban and peri-urban dairy production systems are emerging as an important component of the milk production system.The most driven force for changes are rapid population growth, urbanization and income growth. The future of the dairy sector in Ethiopia is more positive with different driving factors, which includes positive economic outlook and life style changes. Ethiopia planned the project Ethiopian Livestock master Plan (LMP) from 2015 - 2020 that  proposed combined interventions for red meat-milk production. At the same time, considerable changes in the composition of livestock products will be occur. Out of 98.20%, the total cattle population in Ethiopia are local breeds while hybrid and exotic breeds accounted for about 1.62 and 0.18%, respectively. The Ethiopian government was highly engaged to improve cattle productivity particularly to boost dairy productivity through crossbreeding program through Artificial Insemination and Livestock Production and Productivity Improvement Service. Keywords: Demand, Driven force, Milk production and Milk supply DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/85-03 Publication date:March 31st 201

Demonstration and Popularization of Improved Oat Varieties/Accessions at the Highland of Guji Zone High Land, Ethiopia

This experiment was conducted with the objectives of to demonstrating and popularizing recommend improved Oat accessions/varieties to the area and to assess farmers preference for the improved Oat cultivars as a feed for livestock production in Guji Zone high land parts. The experiment was laid out in simple plot with size of 10 X10 m under four kebele's of eight farmers two each kebele's of Bore and Ana Sora districts. The materials used for this experiment was CI-8251, CI-8235, 79Ab384 (TX) 80SA95, Lampton, SRCPX80Ab2291and SRCPX80Ab2806 oat accessions. Data was recorded for plant height, maturity date, 50% flowering date, seed yield, diseases reaction, lodging, green fodder yield and farmers preferences. The varieties differed in yield and yield related parameters. Accession CI-8251 produced significantly higher green forage yield (73.13 ton/ha) followed by SRCPX80Ab2806 and 79Ab384 (TX) 80SA95 which was 64.05 and 61.65 ton/ha respectively, the variety lampton recorded lowest green forage yield (55.0 ton/ha) might be due to high lodging and diseases. The highest seed yield (31.34qt/ha) was obtained from SRCPX80Ab2806 accession followed by 79Ab384 (TX) 80SA95 and CI-8235 (31.15qt/ha and 30.65qt/ha) respectively while lampton variety gives only 22.94qt/ha was the lowest yield. The tallest plants (184.5 cm) recorded from Lampton followed by CI-8251 (175.5 cm) and 79Ab384 (TX) 80SA95 (161.25 cm) and minimum (147.75, 154.75cm) from SRCPX80Ab2806 and SRCPX80Ab2291 respectively. Based on their own evaluation criteria, farmers grouped SRCPX80Ab2806 and 79Ab384 (TX) 80SA95 in the first rank; CI-8251 in the second; SRCPX80Ab2291 in the third; CI-8235 and lampton ranked as last. Lampton variety was the most susceptible and have low resistance to disease and no diseases was recorded from accession CI-8251. Low diseases was recorded from 79Ab384 (TX) 80SA95 and SRCPX80Ab 22 91, but resistance to disease and give good yield and yield components. Hence accessions SRCPX80Ab2806, CI-8251 and 79Ab384 (TX) 80SA95 proved its superiority over all the other varieties included in the experiment and could popularized with the same agro-ecology of the zone and other parts of the country. Keywords: diseases resistance, forage yield, oats, Seed yield DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-5-05 Publication date:March 31st 201

Valorisation of Mango Fruit By-products: Physicochemical Characterisation and Future Prospect

As a result of its high perishability and poor postharvest handling technique, large quantities of mango are wasted during the peak season annually. In the present study, the physicochemical characterization was investigated, with a view exploiting mango by-product as a source of high-value material. The result revealed that processing of mango fruit generates 35-55% by-product (seed and peel). Results revealed that mango seed (kernel and seed coat) had protein contents of 5.09 and 6.12%; moisture, 3.58 and 5.11%; crude fat, 18.67 and 11.33%; mineral ash, 2.65 and 1.98%; fibre, 5.47 and 2.02% while the carbohydrate was 64.24 and 72.24% respectively. The results revealed that the peel contained moisture (7.51%), crude protein (11.67%), crude fat (42.24%), mineral ash (1.65%) and total carbohydrates (31.24%). There is no significant difference on the functional properties and ultimate properties of the by-products. FTIR spectrum clearly identified the presence of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups besides cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The result showed that mango fruit by-product could be a rich source of chemical composition for different application areas. Valorisation of mango fruit by-product through different routes not only helps reduce environmental pollution but also can create job opportunity and reduces the cost of waste disposal for processing industries. Keywords: Mango by-products, physicochemical, Valorisation, proximate composition

Beef Cattle Supply Status with Recent Trends and Future Prospects in Relation to Past in the Cases of Mechara Town, West Hararghe, Oromia Regional State

This activity was conducted 2018 in Daro Labu, Mecahara town, West Hararghe Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data were collected from eight (8) butchers, ten (10) brokers and twenty (20)  consumers of meat about cattle supply. According to the respondents, all of the cattle are local Hararghe breed. Most of the butchers (75%) did not participate in purchasing beef cattle rather than they used brokers for purchasing and only 25% of butchers purchase beef cattle by themselves. The supply status of beef cattle are depending on the season of the year:- which exceeds beyond requirement during holiday and time for paying cost of inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. 40% of the brokers responded that total cattle supply status is decreasing from time to time and about 60% of the respondents (brokers)  responded that total cattle supply status is increasing from time to time in mechara town market. About 62.5%  of the butchers have no any information about the relationship between butchery and beef cattle supply and have no worry about problems in counters them in the middle due to the shortage of beef cattle and only 37.5%  of them have the information about the risk of associated beef cattle supply shortage. About 87.5% of the butchers responded that cattle supply status has been decreasing from year to year while 22.5% responded that there is no variation. All the butchery has known that animal age and breed type can affect  both meat quality and quantity as well as marketability. About  (87.5%) of butchers responded that they prefer at the age 4 - 6 years first followed by at the age of 2 - 4 years,  thirdly they prefer at the of 6 - 8 years. No one slaughter below the age of 2 years and above of 8 years old. From this results, we observe that animals which are used for all butcheries are at the age of productive age and it needs special attention. All butchery  (100%) of them have responded no one slaughter female animals (cow or heifer). Most butchers were responded that meat consumption habit increasing being they were joining the business even though the price of the meat dramatically increasing especially from Ethiopian  Millennium to date.  All the respondents agree that the price of the meat dramatically increasing. The average price when they started is 10 birr/kg and now a day's 240 birr/ kg.Out of 20 consumers, 80% of them were responded that demand for meat consumption is increasing from time to time even though meat quality is decreasing.  All consumers agree that meat flavor is changed and have no sense of flavor due to two reasons: feed and pregnancy. Keywords: cattle supply, Mechara market, butcher, meat consumption, brokers DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-5-06 Publication date:March 31st 201

Development and Optimization of Nutritionally Enhanced Wheat Breads Supplemented with tef (Eragrostistef (Zucc.) Trotter) Grain Flour

The aim of this study was to develop nutritionally enhanced and healthy bread through incorporation of tef flour to wheat flour. Accordingly, the influence of tef (brown and white) flour incorporation (0 -40% tef flour) on wheat-tef blend flour physicochemical  properties, baking characteristics and bread nutritional and sensorial qualities was evaluated. Incorporation of tef flour significantly increased water absorption capacity (57.67 to 97.00%), reduced both wet gluten (29.33 to 13.89 %) and dry gluten (12.03 to 6.37 %) content of composite flour. All the tef containing bread showed better mineral content (Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Mg, K and Na), good fiber and fat content as compared to wheat flour bread. Moreover, the bread specific volume decreased from 3.80 to 2.91 and the bake loss content increased from 17.52 to 30.94 with increase in tef flour from 0 to 40% in composite blends. The sensory attributes scores of the color, aroma, odor,  texture and overall acceptability decreased. However, it could be concluded that breads supplemented with 15% tef flour showed acceptable sensory quality and enhanced nutritionally properties. Keywords: tef; composite flour; gluten; nutritional composition; bread quality DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/102-03 Publication date: November 30th 2020

Studies assessing the practice of social marketing approach: the case of PSI Ethiopia health products

Population Services International/Ethiopia (PSI/E), founded in 2003, engaged in social marketing and communication of health programs throughout the country but there are issues and questions raised by different stakeholders about the applicability and effectiveness of the approaches. Some claim; it cannot effectively influence audiences to behave and use products and services, others questions marketing approach applicability in the health field and most argued about the non government organization involvement in sales and marketing of health programs. The general objective of this study is to assess Population Services International’s practice of social marketing: identify the company practice of social marketing, determine the applicability to health, identify potential challenges, and to identify how the company measure its impact and interventions. This study was exploratory and descriptive in nature in order to gain in-depth information about the problem under investigation. This is an organizational-based, cross-sectional, formative assessment that exclusively employed qualitative research methods. The study revealed that social marketing is an easy way to tackle health problems and other social change activities since the interventions are focused and targeted in all aspects. In addition, social marketing ensures the sustainability of such interventions by engaging the private sector and sharing the burden of diseases with interested stakeholders by utilizing income generating activities. However, PSI/E is weak in the public relations and communication of its social marketing interventions to government officials and other stakeholders, and that weakness creates confusion among external customers. The organization also lacks marketing and sales professionals and is outweighed by the health professionals with less marketing knowledge and experience. PSI has a huge opportunity to diversify its interventions by using more marketing approaches. Therefore, in order apply the social marketing approach in a more successful way, PSI/E should do structured public relations, advocacy and sensitization workshops and involve more marketing professionals to get buy-in and support from the local government and other stakeholders as well for better marketing strategy design

Beef Cattle Supply Status with Recent Trends and Future Prospects in Relation to Past in the Cases of Mechara Town, West Hararghe, Oromia Regional State

This activity was conducted 2018 in Daro Labu, Mecahara town, West Hararghe Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data were collected from eight (8) butchers, ten (10) brokers and twenty (20)  consumers of meat about cattle supply. According to the respondents, all of the cattle are local Hararghe breed. Most of the butchers (75%) did not participate in purchasing beef cattle rather than they used brokers for purchasing and only 25% of butchers purchase beef cattle by themselves. The supply status of beef cattle are depending on the season of the year:- which exceeds beyond requirement during holiday and time for paying cost of inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. 40% of the brokers responded that total cattle supply status is decreasing from time to time and about 60% of the respondents (brokers)  responded that total cattle supply status is increasing from time to time in mechara town market. About 62.5%  of the butchers have no any information about the relationship between butchery and beef cattle supply and have no worry about problems in counters them in the middle due to the shortage of beef cattle and only 37.5%  of them have the information about the risk of associated beef cattle supply shortage. About 87.5% of the butchers responded that cattle supply status has been decreasing from year to year while 22.5% responded that there is no variation. All the butchery has known that animal age and breed type can affect  both meat quality and quantity as well as marketability. About  (87.5%) of butchers responded that they prefer at the age 4 - 6 years first followed by at the age of 2 - 4 years,  thirdly they prefer at the of 6 - 8 years. No one slaughter below the age of 2 years and above of 8 years old. From this results, we observe that animals which are used for all butcheries are at the age of productive age and it needs special attention. All butchery  (100%) of them have responded no one slaughter female animals (cow or heifer). Most butchers were responded that meat consumption habit increasing being they were joining the business even though the price of the meat dramatically increasing especially from Ethiopian  Millennium to date.  All the respondents agree that the price of the meat dramatically increasing. The average price when they started is 10 birr/kg and now a day's 240 birr/ kg.Out of 20 consumers, 80% of them were responded that demand for meat consumption is increasing from time to time even though meat quality is decreasing.  All consumers agree that meat flavor is changed and have no sense of flavor due to two reasons: feed and pregnancy. Keywords: cattle supply, Mechara market, butcher, meat consumption, brokers DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-5-01 Publication date:March 31st 201

Audit Fee Determinants and Audit Quality in Ethiopian Commercial Banks

The audit profession has been highly scrutinized among researchers and regulators following the fall of giant companies in the west. One of the issues that gained momentum has been to analyze the audit fee structure and the various auditor-client relationships. This study investigates the determinants of audit fees and the ex-ante audit quality based on variables unique to the banking firms and considered important by regulators in Ethiopian commercial banks. The study also examined whether auditors value factors considered important by the regulatory bank, which result in better alignment of interests of auditors and regulators. The study used panel data for eight commercial banks from the year 2004-2012. The panel fixed effect regression result revealed bank size, liquidity, efficiency, loan growth, capital adequacy and auditor size are significant determinants of audit fees in Ethiopian commercial banks. However, among the factors considered important by the regulatory bank, credit risk is found to be insignificant. With regard to audit quality, the study did not find significant relationship between the extent of earning management and abnormal audit fees, indicating that auditors do not seem to compromise audit quality to secure abnormally higher audit fees. The researcher recommends auditors to further align audit fee valuation with the interests of regulatory bank, particularly in respect of credit risk.Keywords: audit fees, regulatory risks, audit quality, earning management, Loan Loss Provision

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Mana Angetu District, South Eastern Ethiopia

This study documents indigenous medicinal plant utilization, management and the threats affecting them. The study was carried out in Mana Angetu district between January 2003 and December 2004. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi structured interviews, field observations, preference and direct matrix ranking with traditional medicine practitioners. The ethnomedicinal use of 230 plant species was documented in the study area. Most of the plants (78.7%) were reportedly used to treat human diseases. The most frequently used plant part were roots (33.9%), followed by leaves (25.6%). Most of the medicinal species (90.4%) were collected from the wild. Direct matrix analysis showed that Olea europaea L. Subsp. cuspidata (Wall. ex G. Don) was the most important species followed by Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne (120) indicating high utility value of these species for the local community. The principal threatening factors reported were deforestation (90%), agricultural expansion (85%) and fire (53%). Documenting the eroding plants and associated indigenous knowledge can be used as a basis for developing management plans for conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in the area