The dynamics of soil degradation and incentives for optimal management in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

This thesis addressed two main issues. First, using an inter-temporal optimisation framework, the thesis analysed the tradeoffs between short and long-term objectives of soil use that smallholder farmers’ face in their production decisions. Second, using econometric models that account for simultaneity of choices and plot level data, the thesis explored the determinants of soil fertility and soil conservation adoption decision behaviour of smallholder farmers in the Central highlands of Ethiopia. Four major conclusions are drawn from the optimization results. First, steady state optimal output and input levels under the dynamic decision rule are found to be significantly higher than the static solutions suggesting that the static decision rule is sub-optimal. Second, current soil nutrient inputs and conservation efforts are well above the requirements of the static solutions suggesting smallholder farmers consider some of the long-term (dynamic) costs of soil degradation. Third, current farmer practices involve net nitrogen extraction of 16.2 kg/ha from bottomlands and 56.7 kg/ha from slopping lands entailing a total soil user cost of Birr 255 per ha and Birr 928 per ha, respectively. This suggests that current smallholder farmer practices discount the future heavily and hence over exploit the soil resource stock. Fourth, a comparison of steady state dynamic solutions when nutrient stocks are the sole determinant of soil quality with a situation where both nutrient stocks and rooting depth impinge on soil quality confirm the main hypothesis that the socially optimal path of soil use also depends on the nature of soil degradation smallholder farmers face on their plots. The econometric analysis of soil fertility and soil conservation adoption confirmed that awareness of soil degradation, public assistance with sharing initial costs of constructing soil conservation structures, improved security of land tenure and farmers’ education and access to information on soil degradation were found essential for farmers to adopt soil fertility management practices and invest in soil conservation. On the other hand, improved small farmers’ access to short-term credit for the purchase of inorganic fertilizers present a disincentive for long-term conservation practices, an important trade off with serious policy implications.Thesis (PhD (Environmental Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmentunrestricte

A multivariate analysis of factors affecting adoption of improved varieties of multiple crops: A case study from Ethiopian highlands

This paper analyzes the synergies/tradeoffs involved in the adoption of improved varieties of multiple crops in the mixed crop-livestock production systems of the highlands of Ethiopia A multivariate probit (MVP) model involving a system of four equations for the adoption decision of improved varieties of barley, potatoes, wheat and faba beans was estimated using a nationally representative data from a sample of 1469 farm households. Model results attested the existence of endogeneity in the adoption decisions of improved varieties of the four crops. The area shares of improved varieties of potatoes and faba beans are also found to have positive and significant effects on the likelihood of adopting improved varieties of barley and wheat and vice versa - indicating synergistic effects among the adoption decisions of the two groups of crops. On the other hand, the area share of improved varieties of wheat negatively and significantly effects the chances of using improved varieties of barley and vice versa - suggesting the existence of tradeoffs between the improved varieties of the two crops. The MVP results, therefore, provide evidence for the simultaneity and interdependence of the decisions and intensity of adoption of the improved varieties of the four crops. Practical training has positive and significant effects on the likelihood of adopting improved varieties of barley, potatoes and faba bean while secondary level education has positive and significant effects on the likelihood of adopting improved varieties of barley and wheat. Hence, efforts to increase adoption of improved barley, potatoes and wheat varieties would more likely be successful if accompanied with practical trainings and/or if directed to farmers with relatively higher levels of education. Farmers in Oromia and SNNPR Regions are found to be more likely to use improved varieties of barley, potatoes and wheat than those in Amhara Region

Determinants of Inorganic Fertilizer Use in the Mixed Crop-Livestock Farming Systems of Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Increased use of inorganic fertilisers is believed to be fundamental to addressing the low and declining soil fertility and improving food security in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Despite notable improvements in the supply of inorganic fertilisers and supporting services such as extension and credit, use of inorganic fertilisers among smallholder farmers remained disappointingly low. The objective of this study was to determine key factors responsible for use of inorganic fertilisers in the mixed crop-livestock farming systems in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Heckman\u2019s two-step procedure was used to analyse the variables. Education level of the head of the household, number of livestock owned, number of plots owned, land tenure, access to credit and extension, agro-ecology and manure use influenced both the likelihood of adoption and intensity of inorganic fertiliser use. Continued land redistribution in the already degraded and land scarce highlands further undermine sustainable farming and increase nutrient mining. On the other hand, shrinking plot size as a result of repeated plot subdivisions may induce current users of inorganic fertilisers to use more nutrients per unit of land in an attempt to raise productivity. This positive effect, however, may be more than offset by the negative effects exerted by plot distance, thus leading to nutrient mining.L\u2019utilisation accrue des engrais inorganiques est reconnue \ueatre fondamentale pour addresser la baisse de la fertilit\ue9 du sol et l\u2019am\ue9lioration de la s\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire en Afrique sub-Saharienne (SSA). Malgr\ue9 des ameliorations notables dans l\u2019approvisionnement des engrais et les services de soutien tels que la vulgarization et credit, l\u2019utilisation des engrais inorganiques par les petits expolitants est de fa\ue7on d\ue9cevante rest\ue9e basse. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de d\ue9terminer les faclteurs cl\ue9s reponsables pour l\u2019utilisation des engrais inorganiques dans les syst\ue8mes mixtes agro-elevages dans les hautes terres du Centre de l\u2019Ethiopie. La proc\ue9dure dite two-step de Heckman \ue9tait utilis\ue9e pour analyser les variables. Le niveau d\u2019\ue9tude du chef de m\ue9nage, le nombre de b\ue9tail poss\ue9d\ue9, le nombre de parcelle poss\ue9d\ue9, la possession de terre, l\u2019acc\ue8s au credit et les services de vulgarization, l\u2019utilisation agro-\ue9cologique et fumure organique comme influenc\ue9 par l\u2019adoption et l\u2019intensit\ue9 de l\u2019utilisation des engrais inorganiques. La redistribution des terres des hautes terres d\ue9j\ue0 d\ue9grad\ue9es et rares compromet toute tentative de leur exploitation durable et acc\ue9l\ue8re l\u2019appauvrissement du sol en \ue9lements min\ue9raux. D\u2019autre part, la r\ue9duction de la taille des parcelles comme r\ue9sultat des subdivisions r\ue9p\ue9t\ue9es des parcelles pourrait induire une utilisation plus accrue des engrais inorganiques par unit\ue9 de terre dans la tentative d\u2019accro\ueetre la productivit\ue9. Cet effet positif, par ailleur, pourrait \ueatre plus que contre-balanc\ue9 par les effets n\ue9gatifs tels qu\u2019 influenc\ue9s par la distance, ainsi, conduisant \ue0 la perte d\u2019\ue9lements min\ue9raux du sol

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATORY SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT BYELAW FORMULATION IN THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Widespread adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) innovations by land users is considered key in addressing the rampant land degradation in the high rainfall and densely populated highlands of eastern and southern Africa. However, absence of enabling policy environments hamperes massive adoption of SLM innovations among rural communities. This paper presents the process and outcomes of a participatory approach for formulating and implementing SLM byelaws in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The participatory approach utilised three complementary tools, namely, stakeholder analysis, community needs assessment and policy dialogues. The stakeholder analysis revealed that several government institutions, non-government organisations (NOGs) and community groups promote SLM practices. Poor coordination among actors, top-down approach in planning and implementation, and limited capacity of communities hamperes SLM scaling up efforts. Stakeholder engagements culminates in establishing innovation platforms (IPs) at district and watershed levels tasked with coordinating SLM scaling up efforts. While the community needs assessment identified and prioritised SLM issues that needed to be resolved, the policy dialogue engaging IPs formulated three SLM byelaws and mechanisms for implementation.Une large adoption des innovations de la gestion durable des terres (SLM) est consid\ue9r\ue9e comme une cl\ue9 importante pour adresser le probl\ue8me de la d\ue9gradation accrue des terres dans les hautes terres \ue0 pluviom\ue9trie \ue9lev\ue9e et densement peupl\ue9es de l\u2019 Afrique de l\u2019Est et du Sud. Par ailleurs, l\u2019absence de politiques environnementales handicape l\u2019adoption massive des innovations de SLM parmi les communaut\ue9s rurales. Cet article pr\ue9sente le processus et les r\ue9sultats d\u2019une approche participative pour la formulation et l\u2019ex\ue9cution des lois de SLM dans les hautes terres de l\u2019Ethiopie centrale. L\u2019approche participative a utilis\ue9 trois voies compl\ue9mentaires, dont l\u2019analyse de partenaires, l\u2019\ue9valuation des besoins communautaires et le dialogue sur les politiques. L\u2019analyse de partenaires a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que plusieurs institutions gouvernementales, organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) et groupes communautaires encouragent les pratiques des SLM. Une pauvre coordination parmi les acteurs, une approche de haut en bas dans la planification et l\u2019ex\ue9cution, et une capacit\ue9 limit\ue9e des communaut\ue9s handicapent les efforts fournis dans le SLM. L\u2019engagement de partenaires culmine dans l\u2019\ue9tablissement des plateformes d\u2019innovations (IPs) au niveau du district et du basin versant avec pour t\ue2che la coordination des efforts d\u2019innovation de SLM. Alors que l\u2019\ue9valuation des besoins communautaires a identifi\ue9 et prioritis\ue9 les probl\ue8mes de SLM qui ont besoin d\u2019\ueatre adress\ue9s, le dialogue sur les politiques ont formul\ue9 trois lois et m\ue9canismes pour l\u2019ex\ue9cution de SLM

Zoonotic tuberculosis in a high bovine tuberculosis burden area of Ethiopia

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of ill health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide, caused by species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), with Mycobacterium tuberculosis being the dominant pathogen in humans and Mycobacterium bovis in cattle. Zoonotic transmission of TB (zTB) to humans is frequent particularly where TB prevalence is high in cattle. In this study, we explored the prevalence of zTB in central Ethiopia, an area highly affected by bovine TB (bTB) in cattle.MethodA convenient sample of 385 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB, N = 287) and tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLN, N = 98) were included in this cross-sectional study in central Ethiopia. Sputum and fine needle aspirate (FNA) samples were obtained from patients with PTB and TBLN, respectively, and cultures were performed using BACTEC™ MGIT™ 960. All culture positive samples were subjected to quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, targeting IS1081, RD9 and RD4 genomic regions for detection of MTBC, M. tuberculosis and M. bovis, respectively.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty-five out of 385 sampled patients were culture positive and all were isolates identified as MTBC by being positive for the IS1081 assay. Among them, 249 (97.6%) samples had also a positive RD9 result (intact RD9 locus) and were consequently classified as M. tuberculosis. The remaining six (2.4%) isolates were RD4 deficient and thereby classified as M. bovis. Five out of these six M. bovis strains originated from PTB patients whereas one was isolated from a TBLN patient. Occupational risk and the widespread consumption of raw animal products were identified as potential sources of M. bovis infection in humans, and the isolation of M. bovis from PTB patients suggests the possibility of human-to-human transmission, particularly in patients with no known contact history with animals.ConclusionThe detected proportion of culture positive cases of 2.4% being M. bovis from this region was higher zTB rate than previously reported for the general population of Ethiopia. Patients with M. bovis infection are more likely to get less efficient TB treatment because M. bovis is inherently resistant to pyrazinamide. MTBC species identification should be performed where M. bovis is common in cattle, especially in patients who have a history of recurrence or treatment failure

Determinants of inorganic fertiliser use in the mixed crop-livestock farming systems of the Central highlands of Ethiopia

Includes abstract in FrenchUse of inorganic fertilizers could be fundamental in addressing low and declining soil fertility while improving food security in sub-Sahara Africa. Determination of key factors responsible for use of inorganic fertilizers in the central highlands of Ethiopia is increasingly important as continued land redistribution in already degraded and land-scarce highlands undermines sustainable farming and increases nutrient mining. Education level of the head of the household, number of livestock owned, number of plots owned, land tenure, access to credit and extension, agroecology and manure use influence both the likelihood of adoption and intensity of inorganic fertilizer use

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATORY SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT BYELAW FORMULATION IN THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Widespread adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) innovations by land users is considered key in addressing the rampant land degradation in the high rainfall and densely populated highlands of eastern and southern Africa. However, absence of enabling policy environments hamperes massive adoption of SLM innovations among rural communities. This paper presents the process and outcomes of a participatory approach for formulating and implementing SLM byelaws in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The participatory approach utilised three complementary tools, namely, stakeholder analysis, community needs assessment and policy dialogues. The stakeholder analysis revealed that several government institutions, non-government organisations (NOGs) and community groups promote SLM practices. Poor coordination among actors, top-down approach in planning and implementation, and limited capacity of communities hamperes SLM scaling up efforts. Stakeholder engagements culminates in establishing innovation platforms (IPs) at district and watershed levels tasked with coordinating SLM scaling up efforts. While the community needs assessment identified and prioritised SLM issues that needed to be resolved, the policy dialogue engaging IPs formulated three SLM byelaws and mechanisms for implementation.Une large adoption des innovations de la gestion durable des terres (SLM) est considérée comme une clé importante pour adresser le problème de la dégradation accrue des terres dans les hautes terres à pluviométrie élevée et densement peuplées de l’ Afrique de l’Est et du Sud. Par ailleurs, l’absence de politiques environnementales handicape l’adoption massive des innovations de SLM parmi les communautés rurales. Cet article présente le processus et les résultats d’une approche participative pour la formulation et l’exécution des lois de SLM dans les hautes terres de l’Ethiopie centrale. L’approche participative a utilisé trois voies complémentaires, dont l’analyse de partenaires, l’évaluation des besoins communautaires et le dialogue sur les politiques. L’analyse de partenaires a révélé que plusieurs institutions gouvernementales, organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) et groupes communautaires encouragent les pratiques des SLM. Une pauvre coordination parmi les acteurs, une approche de haut en bas dans la planification et l’exécution, et une capacité limitée des communautés handicapent les efforts fournis dans le SLM. L’engagement de partenaires culmine dans l’établissement des plateformes d’innovations (IPs) au niveau du district et du basin versant avec pour tâche la coordination des efforts d’innovation de SLM. Alors que l’évaluation des besoins communautaires a identifié et prioritisé les problèmes de SLM qui ont besoin d’être adressés, le dialogue sur les politiques ont formulé trois lois et mécanismes pour l’exécution de SLM