Rural Kebeles Research Articles

Challenges of Rural Women Livelihood and Coping Strategies, in the Case of Wolayta Zone, Ethiopia

Although rural-urban migration is dominated by women nationally in Ethiopia, the feature of out migration from certain parts of the country has been largely men’s affair. Little is known how the livelihood of women is affected in the long run when their counterparts migrate out and the former assume the virtual headship of their households’ in Ethiopia. This study is therefore, intended to assess how women cope with in the absence of their husbands and support their family and identifies the major socioeconomic and institutional factors that influence their effort to improve their livelihood. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approach of data gathering. In the study, descriptive design was employed. Generally, sample size of the study was one hundred twelve (112) such that 20 male households, 80 de facto women households, four chairman of kebeles, four experts from office of agriculture and four aged person from four rural kebeles were included by using multi stage sampling method. The study employed questionnaires, interviews, document reviewing and discussion with focus groups. On the basis and types of data gathered and the instrument used, both quantitative and qualitative techniques of data analysis supported by SPSS were employed. The result of the study indicates that male-out migration has greatly affected the livelihood of the women who are left behind. The labor gap created due to the absence of male head has negatively affected the agricultural production and the natural resource conservation activity in the study area. Thus, to improve the lives of de facto women heads by mitigating the social, economic and cultural barriers which hinder their effort to win a decent livelihood, certain recommendation, gleaned out from this study were suggested to the concerned bodies.

The Impacts of Urban Expansion on Livelihoods of the Surrounding Rural Society: The Case of Tefki Town, Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne

Urbanization is recently a rising trend seen all over the world, mostly in an upsetting rate in developing countries. Similarly, most towns in Ethiopia are recently becoming expanded towards the adjacent rural societies. The Expansions of these towns were resulted in the consuming and conversion of farm land to urban land uses and affects the agrarian livelihoods. This study is intended to assess the impacts of urban expansion on livelihoods of the society surrounding rural kebeles of Tefki town from the year 2015-2019. Specifically, the study focused on evaluating the effects of town expansion on the farmers (households) in terms of income, the opportunities of the affected households secured from the town expansion and compensation process. Hence, 166 expansion affected households were selected through snowball sampling, and also (5) officials from different institutions were purposively taken for key informant interview while (7) respondents from the affected farmers were selected for interview. Thus, the primary data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data have been also used to triangulate and supplement the first hand information. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. The result showed that Tefki town rapidly expanded during the last five years as a result of population growth and industrialization. This expansion made significant effects on livelihoods of the surrounding farmers. Although they secured access to certain services, it was also brought effects like loss of agricultural land and other assets including grazing land which resulted in change of their livelihoods, and unfair compensation. This expansion has made the households of the surrounding area to lose farm land on which their livelihood used to depend on for long period of time. Every farmer has been made to lose an average of 1 hectare of their owned farm land. The grazing land of the area has been decreased because of town expansion, and thus made farmers to lack enough place of grazing for their livestock. On the other side, the compensation was not made on time for the affected farmers. The study also found out that the compensation given to the farmers was not fair, and too inadequate to sustain the livelihoods of the affected households. Therefore, a detailed potential effect assessment study should be carried out by the government and other stakeholders prior to implementing urbanization programs so as to minimize the adverse effects of urban expansion.

Hygienic Practice of Complementary Food Preparation and Associated Factors among Mothers with Children Aged from 6 to 24 Months in Rural Kebeles of Harari Region, Ethiopia

Introduction: Evidence shows that 10 to 20% of food-borne outbreaks perceptible in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of hygienic practice of complementary food preparation and associated factors among mothers with children aged from 6 to 24 months in rural kebeles of Harari region, Ethiopia. The Method is a community based cross-sectional study design which was implemented on 422 of sampled mothers. Simple random sampling method was used to select those study participants. The data was collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaires. Data was processed, coded and entered into epi data version 3.02, exported to SPSS Version 20 and analyzed. Odds ratio along with 95% CI was estimated to measure the strength of the association. Finally, level of statistically significant was declared at P-value <0.05. From the result of this study, the status of good hygienic practice of mothers was (39.6%) [95% CI (confidence interval): 34.60, 43.90]. Lack of formal education [AOR (adjusted odds ratio): [AOR=0.177, 95% CI: (0.044, 0.75)], learning grade 1-8 [AOR=0.214, 95% CI: (0.052, 0.872)], age group of 25-30 years [AOR=6.51, 95% CI: (1.38, 30.50)], income ≥ 1000 ETB [AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: (1.354, 3.55)] and the presence of separate kitchen [AOR=0.594, 95% CI: (0.390, 0.906)] were significantly associated with complementary food preparation practice. The prevalence of good hygienic practice of complementary food preparation among of mothers was low in this study. Hence, the concerned stakeholders in collaboration with Harar health bureau need to facilitate awareness raising activities on hygiene practice which help to prevent food borne.

Financial risk of seeking maternal and neonatal healthcare in southern Ethiopia: a cohort study of rural households

IntroductionEthiopian households’ out-of-pocket healthcare payments constitute one-third of the national healthcare budget and are higher than the global and low-income countries average, and even the global target. Such out-of-pocket payments pose severe financial risks, can be catastrophic, impoverishing, and one of the causal barriers for low utilisation of healthcare services in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the financial risk of seeking maternal and neonatal healthcare in southern Ethiopia.MethodsA population-based cohort study was conducted among 794 pregnant women, 784 postpartum women, and their 772 neonates from 794 households in rural kebeles of the Wonago district, southern Ethiopia. The financial risk was estimated using the incidence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure, impoverishment, and depth of poverty. Annual catastrophic healthcare expenditure was determined if out-of-pocket payments exceeding 10% of total household or 40% of non-food expenditure. Impoverishment was analysed based on total household expenditure and the international poverty line of ≈ $1.9 per capita per day.ResultsApproximately 93% (735) of pregnant women, 31% (244) of postpartum women, and 48% (369) of their neonates experienced illness. However, only 56 households utilised healthcare services. The median total household expenditure was $527 per year (IQR = 390: 370,760). The median out-of-pocket healthcare payment was $46 per year (IQR = 46: 46, 92) with two episodes per household, and shared 19% of the household’s budget. The poorer households paid more than did the richer for healthcare, during pregnancy-related and neonatal illness. However, the richer paid more than did the poorer during postpartum illness. Forty-six percent of households faced catastrophic healthcare expenditure at the threshold of 10% of total household expenditure, or 74% at a 40% non-food expenditure, and associated with neonatal illness (aRR: 2.56, 95%CI: 1.02, 6.44). Moreover, 92% of households were pushed further into extreme poverty and the poverty gap among households was 45 Ethiopian Birr per day. The average household size among study households was 4.7 persons per household.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that health inequity in the household’s budget share of total OOP healthcare payments in southern Ethiopia was high. Besides, utilisation of maternal and neonatal healthcare services is very low and seeking such healthcare poses a substantial financial risk during illness among rural households. Therefore, the issue of health inequity should be considered when setting priorities to address the lack of fairness in maternal and neonatal health.

Assessments of breeding practices, major constraints and opportunities of sheep and goat production in Sinana district, bale zone, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in selected Rural Kebeles of Sinana District, Bale Zone of Ethiopia with the objectives to identify the breeding practices and assess the major challenges and opportunities of sheep and goat production under taken. Both primary data through structured questionnaire and secondary data from different relevant offices, published and unpublished sources were gathered. A set of semi-structured questionnaire were used to collect data from 120 farmer-owning shoats based on single-visit-interviews. To enrich the primary data, field observations and group discussions were also undertaken. The result of the study indicated that majority of the respondents kept their sheep and goat under free grazing and partly tethered management, respectively during dry and wet season. The main reason for keeping sheep and goat by majority of the farmers (81%) is as a source of money to supplement family income. Almost the entire interviewed households were practices fattening for targeted market. From interviewed respondents 33 (27.5%), 29 (24.17%) and 26 (21.67%) of respondents select animals for fattening based on body conformation, age and local ecotypes, respectively. The most type of feeding systems practices in the study area was free grazing (90.83% during dry; 79.17% during wet season). Natural pasture and crop residues were the main feed resource during the rainy season whereas natural pasture, crop residue, and local brewery by product are the main dry season feeds. Feed shortage, land scarcity, and untimely credit access were the major constraints that hinder sheep and goat productivity in the study area. About 53.9% of interviewed households declared that, sheep and goat health problem were occurred. Overall mortality rate of sheep and goat in study area were 12.9% and 14%, respectively. The highest mortality rate occurred in suckling flock (16% lambs; 16 kids %), young flock (9.6 % lambs; 13% kids) and breeding females (ewes 12% and does 14%) in all study sites. The available opportunities of sheep and goat production in the study area were feasible weather condition followed by availability of adapting local sheep and goat breed, market access and government intervention.

Mothers' satisfaction with health extension services and the associated factors in Gamo Goffa zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Providing compassionate and respectful maternity services in order to bring satisfaction to service users is one of the health extension services packages in Ethiopia. Though the service utilization and its associated factors have been well documented so far, yet there is a dearth of information on client satisfaction; particularly among rural women who are mostly the target groups of health extension services within the Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess mothers' satisfaction with health extension services and the associated factors in the Gamo Goffa Zone, of Southern Ethiopia. A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 478 women from February 1st to February 28th of 2018. A pre-tested and interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique by allocating a proportion to each rural kebeles. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify associated factors. Odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval was used to determine the degree of association. Level of statistical significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05. The overall proportion of mothers who were satisfied with health extension services was 37.4% with 95% CI (33-44%). Mothers who had good family monthly income [AOR = 4.66 (95% CI: 1.1, 20.6)], whose husbands participated in the health extension program [AOR = 4.02 (95% CI: 2.0, 8.1)], who had recent participation in planning of health extension programs [AOR = 5.75 (95% CI: 2.0, 16.5)], who were recognized as a model family [AOR = 2.23 (95% CI: 1.1, 4.6)] had higher odds of satisfaction with health extension services. Satisfaction with the health extension services was low among women in the study area. A better household monthly income, women's and their husbands' participation in health extension services and being a member of a model family were positively associated with their satisfaction. Interventions to enhance women's satisfaction in the health extension service need to focus on household-based involvement of them and their husbands in planning and implementing the services. Likewise, expansion of experiences of model families in the community would raise satisfaction levels.

Neonatal care and community-level treatment seeking for possible severe bacterial infection (PSBI) in Amhara, Ethiopia

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, neonatal mortality accounts for approximately 54% of under-five deaths with the majority of these deaths driven by infections. Possible Severe Bacterial Infection (PSBI) in neonates is a syndromic diagnosis that non-clinical health care providers use to identify and treat newborns with signs of sepsis. In low- and middle–income countries, referral to a hospital may not be feasible due to transportation, distance or finances. Growing evidence suggests health extension workers (HEWs) can identify and manage PSBI at the community level when referral to a hospital is not possible. However, community-based PSBI care strategies have not been widely scaled-up. This study aims to understand general determinants of household-level care as well as household care seeking and decision-making strategies for neonatal PSBI symptoms.MethodsWe conducted eleven focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore illness recognition and care seeking intentions from four rural kebeles in Amhara, Ethiopia. FGDs were conducted among mothers, fathers and households with recruitment stratified among households that have had a newborn with at least one symptom of PSBI (Symptomatic Group), and households that have had a newborn regardless of the child’s health status (Community Group). Data were thematically analyzed using MAXQDA software.ResultsMothers were described as primary caretakers of the newborn and were often appreciated for making decisions for treatment, even when the father was not present. Type of care accessed was often dependent on conceptualization of the illness as simple or complex. When symptoms were not relieved with clinical care, or treatments at facilities were perceived as ineffective, alternative methods were sought. Most participants identified the health center as a reliable facility. While designed to be the first point of access for primary care, health posts were not mentioned as locations where families seek clinical treatment.ConclusionsThis study describes socio-contextual drivers for PSBI treatment at the community level. Future programming should consider the role community members have in planning interventions to increase demand for neonatal care at primary facilities. Encouragement of health post utilization could further allow for heightened accessibility-acceptability of a simplified PSBI regimen.

Working conditions and interventions of health extension workers in the rural areas of South-Western Ethiopia

This study examined the working conditions and interventions of health extension workers in the two selected rural kebeles found in Sarbo District, South-Western Ethiopia. The qualitative research approach utilized owing to the nature of the study in which four health extension workers interviewed in-depth and key informant interviews used as methods. Data were analyzed and interpreted by using qualitative methods of data analysis with triangulation in the thematic method. The study indicated that low payment, poor transportations, unsafe working conditions, and less supportive top management were among the issues that impede interventions and working conditions of health extension workers in the study areas. Furthermore, it further leads to poor delivery of primary health care services. This calls for the designing of effective interventions to improve rural health care services by creating favorable working conditions for rural health extension workers.

Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Factors Among "Apparently Healthy" Urban and Rural Residents in Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundAnemia is the most frequent micronutrient deficiency; globally it has an impact on more than 2 billion people. Different studies have indicated that the prevalence of anemia varies between rural areas and urban centers. This study focused on determining the prevalence and identifying the factors associated with anemia among “apparently healthy” urban and rural residents of Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center.Methods and ParticipantsA comparative cross-sectional study was done using secondary data of Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. Data of 1,602 (1,258 rural and 344 urban) apparently healthy adults whose hemoglobin level was available were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 and separate logistic regression models; urban and rural were fitted. Statistical significance was set at p-values < 0.05 with 95% CI.ResultsThe overall prevalence of anemia was 40.9%. Anemia was higher among rural residents (46.6%) than urban residents (20.1%). In urban centers, being male (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: [1.03, 4.50]) and illiterate (AOR = 5.76, 95% [CI: 1.27, 26.07]) were significantly associated with anemia. In rural areas, being female (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: [1.27, 2.52]), presence of heart disease (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: [1.09, 6.33]), central obesity (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: [1.31, 2.57]), illiteracy (AOR = 3.62, 95% CI: [1.57, 8.35]), and primary school completion (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: [1.08, 6.73]) were significantly associated with anemia.ConclusionAccording to the WHO classification, the overall prevalence of anemia was a severe public health problem. This study also marked urban–rural variation in anemia prevalence, indicating the need for targeting specific areas for intervention. Strengthening strategies aimed at educational empowerment and nutritional education will have a contribution to combating anemia, especially in the rural kebeles of the study area.

Cervical Cancer Screening Acceptance among Women in Dabat District, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Cervical cancer is a global health problem. It is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, and it is the most frequent form and the leading cause of cancer mortality among Ethiopian women. Cervical cancer screening can reduce at least 50% of cervical cancer deaths. In Ethiopia, practice of cervical cancer screening is below 1%. Hence, this study aimed at assessing cervical cancer screening acceptance and determinant factors among women in Dabat district of Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Dabat district in Northwest Ethiopia, 2016. The multistage sampling method was used to recruit 790 women from the selected rural and urban kebeles. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis method was employed to determine factors significantly associated with the acceptance of cervical cancer screening with a 95% CI at p value <0.05. Results The overall awareness of cervical cancer screening was 12.1% (95% CI: 9.6, 14.5), and 17.1% (95% CI 14.4, 19.8) of them accepted the screening. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, having knowledge about cervical cancer (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.7, 3.8), parity women who had more children (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.7, 5.5) and those who perceived the severity of the disease (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI (1.3–3.1)) were statistically significant factors for acceptance of cervical cancer screening. Conclusions Most of the women had poor awareness and acceptance of cervical cancer screening. The findings also revealed that women of multiparous, knowledge about cervical cancer, and perceived the disease as severe were shown to be significant factors of acceptance for cervical cancer screening. Hence, continuous health education and appropriate counseling to women should be performed.

Factors Affecting the Perception of Farmers on Improved Soybean Varieties in Bako Area, West Shewa, Ethiopia

Soybean is one of the most important pulse crops categorized under oil crop. Ethiopia has an enormous potential for production of pulse crops in general and soybean in particular and it is also among the most important export crops. Despite the high production potential and the economic importance of the crop, soybean producers particularly small scale farmers did not economically benefited significant amount from its production. as such Low production and productivity, which is mainly associated with perception of farmers on improved technologies and poor marketing system. To this end, the objectives of this study were: to examine and document the experience of perception farmers on improved soybean varieties, analyse the determining factors that affect the perception of improved soybean production and assess the perception of farmers about improved soybean crop. Two stage sampling procedure were followed to select rural kebeles and households for the study. Four rural kebeles were selected purposively and 120 household heads were selected randomly using probability proportional to size sampling. Semi-Structured interview schedule were developed, pre-tested and used for collecting the essential quantitative data for the study from the sampled households. Focus group discussions on soybean production and marketing were used to generate qualitative data. The result of the study indicated that about 51.7% of the sample respondents were positive perception of the improved soybean varieties, while 48.3 % negative perceptions. The focuses of the study were on the importance of demographic, social and institutional factors that affect the perception of improved soybean varieties in Bako areas. Therefore, policy and development interventions should give emphasis to improvement of such institutional support system so as to achieve wider perception increased productivity and income to small scale farmers Keywords: Perception, Soybean, Bako DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/94-02 Publication date: February 29 th 2020

Factors Determine Beef Cattle Production and Value Addition in Dawuro Zone (Essara and Maraka Districts) SNNPR, Ethiopia

In the agriculture sector beef cattle sub-sector plays a great role by employing many task forces in agrarian countries and serve as source of income and food. Ethiopia’s predominant source of animal feed is natural pastures, forages and browse of varying nutritive value. These feeds are generally communal or are communally administered. “Value added” means adding value to a raw product by taking it to at least the next stage of production. Beef cattle production, marketing and value addition issues are yet not well addressed through scientific approach in the study area. To address these problems this study was conducted in Maraka and Essara districts in Dawuro Zone, Southern Ethiopia with general objective of analyzing factors determine beef cattle production and value addition in the study area. The random sampling procedure is used to select sample respondents such as 130 beef cattle producers from 9 rural kebeles, 16 beef cattle traders and beef retailers. Primary data are collected from sample respondents through questionnaires and checklists and secondary data are also used. Financial position indicators like value share and value-added calculations are included. Statistically significant variables in probit model analysis for factors determine the accesses to veterinary service (drug) are years of experience in beef cattle production, age of household head, family size, land size, and other livestock at household head. In the case of access to feed and feed sources statistically significant variables are sex of the household heads, land size, market information and income from other sources. Percent of value added by beef cattle producers, traders and beef retailers on different sized beef cattle is well computed. Conclusions drawn are Encouraging savings of income obtained from other sources, improving access to veterinary services, providing trainings on improved beef cattle production, organized market linkage and value addition activities.

Production Objectives, Reproductive Performance and Selection Criteria of Indigenous Sheep Types in Meket and Gidan Districts, North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

This study was aimed to generate comprehensive information on production objectives, reproductive performance and selection criteria of indigenous sheep types under farmer’s management condition in Meket and Gidan districts, North Wollo Zone. Ethiopia. Multistage purposive sampling was employed based on the potential of sheep production. Accordingly 6 rural kebeles (3 from each district) were considered purposively. About 240 households (120 from each district) were used for household survey. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 16.0 2007) was used to analyze data. The main objectives of keeping sheep were for income generation followed by meat consumption across the districts compared. Sexual maturity age of Meket ram was 9.04 months whereas Gidan ram was 8.51 months. The average age at first lambing, lambing interval and lifetime lamb crop of Meket Sheep were 16.04 months, 9.14 months and 8.92 lambs, respectively. The corresponding values for Gidan Sheep were 15.57 months, 8.66 months and 9.77 lambs, respectively. Color, growth character and appearance were the most important traits considered by farmers to select breeding rams in both study districts. Ages at first sexual maturity, color, lamb growth and pedigree were the most important trait in choosing of breeding ewes in Meket district. Whereas Ages at first sexual maturity, color, tail type/length and pedigree were the most important trait in choosing of breeding ewes in Gidan district. Therefore, this finding was put baseline for understanding about production objective, Reproductive performance and selection criteria of Sheep and serve as a base for designing a sustainable breeding programme and selection strategies in the study area.

Factors Affecting Livelihood Diversification Decision: The Case of Kuormuk and Homosha Districts of Assosa Zone, Beneshangul Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s agricultural productivity is considered low despite the presence of various agricultural policies. These policies focus mainly on on-farm agricultural development to the neglect of rich opportunities for non-agricultural livelihood diversification activities. Livelihood diversification is a strategy that can boost farmers’ income and promote sustainable land management practices. This study was conducted to assess the various factors that affect households’ decisions on livelihood diversifications the case of Kuormuk and Homosha districts of Assosa zone, Beneshangul Gumuz regional state, western Ethiopia. Data was gathered by household survey from 376 sample households of 13 randomly selected rural kebeles of the Homosha and Kuormuk Districts through structural questionnaires. The alternative livelihood strategies that were used by the study households were agriculture only, and agriculture plus other activities (off-farm and non-farm activities). Binary Logit model was employed in identifying the determinants of rural livelihood diversification decision. From 13 hypothesized explanatory variables, 5 variables were found to have significant effect in determining diversification of household livelihood decisions. Accordingly, age of the household head, access to credit, receiving remittance and land size have negative association with livelihood diversification strategy. Whereas, getting training has a positively influence on households choice of livelihood diversification. Therefore, the findings of this imply that rural households’ development policies should consider off-farm and non-farm livelihood activities in addition to agriculture.

Factors affecting demand for modern contraceptives among currently married reproductive age women in rural Kebeles of Nunu Kumba district, Oromia, Ethiopia

BackgroundFamily planning plays a key role in improving the health of the mother and the child. Yet there are still significant levels of demand for family planning that are unmet and these can lead to unintended pregnancy. So, women’s demand for contraceptive utilization to limit, space, or delay the number of family size can be increased by integrating family planning service at each service delivery points.ObjectiveThe main aim of this study was to assess the demand for modern contraceptive and associated factors among currently married women of the reproductive age group in rural kebeles of Nunu Kumba District, 2015.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from January 15–30, 2015 among 584 systematically selected currently married women of reproductive age in six rural kebeles of Nunu Kumba District. A pre-tested and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were done to summarize the data. A multivariate logistic regressions analysis method was employed and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to control for possible confounders. P-value < 0.05 was used to declare a significant association.ResultsThe total demand for modern methods of contraceptive was 450 (77.1%) of which 325 (55.7%) of them were current user and 125 (21.4%) of them were had unmet need for modern contraceptive methods. Being in the younger age group (15–24 and 25–34 years [AOR = 0.196; 95% CI: 0.055, 0.692] and [AOR = 0.179, 95% CI: 0.043, 0.745] respectively, husband having no intention for more children [AOR = 4.124, 95% CI: 1.891, 8.996], number of children alive [AOR = 2.617, 95% CI: 1.056, 6.486], and couples ever not discussed on family planning [AOR = 0.340, 95% CI: 0.187, 0.619] were factors associated with demand for modern methods of contraception.ConclusionThe total demand for modern methods of contraceptive was high in the study area except for long-acting and permanent methods with high unmet need for spacing than for limiting. Therefore, any program aimed at promoting family planning at the district level should look for ways and means of increasing demand for long-acting and permanent family planning methods and encouraging husband involvement to increase its utilization.

Milk Production Performance, Challenges and Opportunities of Dairy Cattle Production in West Hararghe, Oromiya Regional State

The study was conducted in West Hararge Zone Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia with the objective to describing the dairy production and reproduction performance, identifying and prioritizing researchable issues which make an impact on the development of dairy sector, identifying factors influencing dairy production, constraints and opportunities and forwarding suggestions for the development of dairy sector. Two districts from midland and lowland agro-ecology were purposively selected. Moreover, two kebeles were also selected purposively from each district based on dairy cattle population and accessibility. A total of 120 households were selected for survey data collection from the three agro-ecologies. For the monitoring study, 4 lactating cows in each lactation stage for each rural kebeles as well as for each breed were used. A total of 112 lactating cows were used. The result of the study indicates that the majority (85.8%) of respondents use local breed cow for milk production and the remaining 14.2% of respondents are used cross breed. Average daily milk production was 2.98 litters/day/cow and the average price of one liter milk in the study area at the study period was 23.63 birr. There was a significant difference between the two breeds on the mean age at first calving. Local zebu cow has significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean age at first calving 46.73 ± 0.30 than cross breed cows 31.41 ± 0.53 at the study area. Cross breed cows had significantly shorter (14.44 ± 0.43) months of CI than that of local zebu cow (16.02 ± 0.29). Majority of the respondents ranked feed shortage as the first constraint and also mastitis as the first economically important disease problem.

What determines the operational sustainability of rural drinking water points in Ethiopia? The case of Woliso woreda

Abstract Water is a fundamental element essential for life and health. However, more than 33.3% of rural water services in Ethiopia are not functioning and hence sustainability of rural drinking water points in the country is under question. With this in mind, this study was undertaken to investigate the factors that affect the operational sustainability of rural drinking water points in Woliso woreda, Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected 211 households from six rural Kebeles, which were selected using stratified sampling technique. Focus group discussions and key interviews were also held along with observation. The quantitative data were analysed through descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The qualitative data were used to augment the results from the regression analysis. The results revealed that water service fee, willingness to pay, occurrence of conflict in the water points, monitoring by water user committees, willingness to sustain service, users' participation in the water point construction, satisfaction with the water point service, perception on the possibility of contamination, and training on maintenance are found to be significant factors that affect the operational sustainability of rural drinking water points. Therefore, these significant factors should be sufficiently addressed when planning water supply projects.

Assessment of Trypanocidal Drug Resistance In Tsetse Infested Areas of Guraferda District, Bench Maji Zone, South Western Ethiopia

The South Western region of Ethiopia is affected by both tsetse and non-tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis with a significant impact on livestock productivity. The control of trypanosomosis in Ethiopia relies on either curative or prophylactic treatment of animals with diminazene aceturate (DA) or isometamidium chloride (ISMM). This study was conducted from March - June 2017, where tsetse infestation was high in four purposively selected rural kebeles of Guraferda district of Bench Maji Zone, South Western Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to assess trypanocidal drug resistance under natural grazing systems. Resistance to trypanocidal drug was determined through longitudinal studies. In this study 200 cattle were used for experiment; 50 cattle from each rural kebeles (25 treated and 25 control group). However, 16 animals 5 from control and 11 from threated group were left due to sale of the animals by the owners, refusal of owners to allow their animals during sample collection and inability to reach the study kebeles because of heavy rain and presence of mud. In the present study, 25 cattle were treated with isometamidium and 25 cattle were left untreated and examined regularly at two weeks interval for the presence of trypanosomes. During the experimental period, all infections were monitored in both groups and treated with diminazene (7 mg/kg) body weight. Resistance to isometamidium was assessed by comparing cumulative incidence in both treated and control group using the test relative risk reduction and deducting the rate of treatment failure. Resistance to diminizene was assessed through the rate of treatment failure observed at two week post treatment in the control group. In both cases the threshold of 25% treatment failure was adopted as criteria of presence of chemo-resistance. The present study revealed that the prevalence of trypanosome infection was (76.8%) in control and (23.2%) in treated group. The trypanosome species in the area was predominantly due to T.Congolense (76.8%). This indicates there was a resistance of trypanosome species for the treatment with the recommended dose of diaminazine (7mg/kg) and isometamidium (1mg/kg) body weight. Thus, it is crucial to develop an adequate prophylactic measurements to reduce the prevalence of trypanosome infection there by reducing tsetse fly populations in the study areas.

Determinants of Market Participation among Smallholder Mango Producers in Assosa Zone of Benishangul Gumuz Region in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Commercial transformation of smallholder agriculture entails production decisions based on market signals and significant participation in output markets. Consequently, this research attempts to contribute to the understanding of smallholder commercialization of mango production and analyzing factors determining the extent of smallholders’ participation in output market. The study was based on the cross-sectional data collected from 150 sample households which were randomly selected from 6 rural kebeles. Both descriptive statistics and econometric analysis were used to identify and analyze factors that determine the extent of smallholders’ participation in output market. Accordingly, out of the included 16 variables, 10 were found to significantly influence the quantity of mango sold. The Tobit truncated regression model results showed that the determinant of mango volume of sale includes resources ownership (land allocated for mango and land fragmentation), households assets ownership (number of productive mango trees and mango seedling availability), access to institutions (farmers club membership), social-network (critical support from non-relatives within the village and brokers), and economic (previous income from mango sale, Income from livestock sale, and mango market price) are the significant determinants of mango market participation. Given the current high market demand for Assosa mango, there is a room to enhance the level of mango commercialization, thereby enhancing mango market participation. To improve quantity of mango sold policies and development, endeavors must target at improving household resource endowment, creating market linkage and synergy among mango value-chain actors, and strengthening the existing mango nursery sites and infra-structure.

The effects of trainings in soil and water conservation on farming practices, livelihoods, and land-use intensity in the Ethiopian highlands

Smallholder farmers in the Ethiopian Highlands face increasingly difficult farming conditions. Agricultural intensification to feed the growing rural population, livestock pressure on native vegetation, and climate change converge to exacerbate soil erosion, creating a significant threat to crop productivity and rural livelihoods. Farmer trainings can be a potent strategy to increase farmer awareness of the larger causes of soil loss, help farmers adapt to or mitigate environmental challenges, and improve crop outputs and incomes. However, evaluations of farmer training programs rarely assess socioeconomic and environmental outcomes simultaneously. Our study uses multiple methods to estimate the socio-ecological effects of a soil and water conservation training program for farmers implemented by ADHENO Integrated Rural Development Association, an Ethiopian non-governmental organization. We asked: (a) did farmers use practices taught in trainings; (b) did these strategies lead to improved agricultural productivity or livelihoods; and (c) how did land-use intensity change in areas with more participation in farmer trainings? To address questions (a) and (b), our study and results are based on 449 household surveys, collected between June and August 2017, in two rural kebeles in Ethiopia in which ADHENO has been active since 2003. We used remote sensing analysis of high resolution satellite images to measure land-use change over a period of nine years, addressing question (c) for one of the kebeles. Analysis of household surveys with propensity score matching and robustness checks suggests that participation in farmer trainings predicts the implementation of four out of seven soil conservation farming methods. Participants in training sessions also had higher average incomes from agriculture than non-participants. Linear models of land-use change in the area around villages did not depict a clear relationship between participation in farmer trainings and change in land-use intensity. These results indicate that farmer trainings focusing on soil and water conservation have the potential to influence farming practices and livelihoods and have implications for soil conservation efforts in the Ethiopian Highlands. This study highlights the importance of evaluating the impacts of small, localized development interventions, of which there are many in sub-Saharan Africa, to better understand the ways in which myriad types of programs influence both land use and livelihoods.