ILRI theses and dissertations from Mahider

Communication tools for improved knowledge sharing in rainwater management: A case study of the Nile Basin Development Challenge

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Communication tools for improved knowledge sharing in rainwater management: A case study of the Nile Basin Development Challenge Damtew, E. Communication and knowledge sharing among stakeholders working in rainwater management has a paramount importance to create shared understanding and to narrow the gap between research and action. Even though various rainwater management initiatives have been undertaken in Ethiopia in the last thirty years, there has been limited opportunity to share experience, to take valuable lessons and avoid duplication of efforts. This paper attempted to describe NBDC stakeholders’ understanding on concepts and practices of RWM. It then assessed knowledge sharing challenges in RWM and finally went to evaluating and identifying communication and knowledge sharing tools for stakeholders in NBDC. By stratifying stakeholders as Policy Makers, Development Actors, Research Institutes and farmers, multi-stage sampling was used at organizational and individual levels to draw 129 respondents from selected stakeholders which were MoA, GIZ, Holleta Research Center and Farmers in Jeldu Woreda. Both probabilistic and non probabilistic sampling techniques were used in the process. More of qualitative and some quantitative data were collected using interview schedule, FGD and key informant interviews. Narrative Analysis, Triangulation and RAAKS tools for qualitative analysis and simple descriptive statistics for quantitative analysis were employed. The result showed that there were different perceptions and understanding on basic concepts and practices of RWM. Farmers were found to have limited knowledge and practical know-how on scientific RWM concepts and practices whereas; professionals focused more on technological aspects of RWM than on enabling institutional innovation. Difficulty of knowledge transfer from model farmers, luck of constant follow up and resources to translate knowledge into practice among farmers and luck of commitment, different professional approaches, varying interest, lack of strong network and lack of enabling technologies and knowledge management professionals were among the major challenges for improved knowledge sharing in rainwater management among other stakeholders. The study revealed that communication and knowledge sharing tools used by training facilitators were not suitable to the majority of farmers. Farmers preferred a more practical oriented training sessions with demonstrations and field visits and with audio-visual tools like video, films and radio programs as teaching aids. Ease of understanding and permanence of acquired knowledge were among the major reasons for farmers’ preference. Professionals from Holleta research Center preferred tools and methods that allow both face-to-face and virtual communications justifying the importance at different levels of engagements. Respondents from GIZ have shown more interest to virtual communication through web-based applications whereas, experts from MoA voted for face-to-face communications and knowledge sharing through workshops, conferences, seminars and trainings as these provides a better opportunity to deal with ambiguous and unstructured tasks as policy makers. To improve knowledge sharing success in RWM, more investment in time and money for integration, deeper understanding of the barriers to knowledge sharing and use of appropriate tools and methods is required among stakeholders.

Comparative feedlot performance of Washera and Horro sheep fed different roughage to concentrate ratio

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Comparative feedlot performance of Washera and Horro sheep fed different roughage to concentrate ratio Gizachew, A. A study was conducted using thirty male intact Washera and Horro sheep (15 from each breed) with initial body weight (BW) of 19.01±0.37 kg (mean ± SD) to compare feed intake, digestibility, growth performance and carcass characteristics of the animals fed diet containing hay:concentrate ratio of 70:30 (L), 60:40 (M), 50:50 (H). The concentrate contained 30:70 (noug seed cake:wheat bran). Animals of each breed were blocked based on initial BW and were randomly assigned to the dietary treatments. The experimental design was therefore a 2*3 factorial in RCBD. The experiment had a 90 days feeding and 7 days digestibility trials and carcass evaluation at the end. The crude protein (CP) contents of the three diets were 13.7, 15.5 and 18.1% for L, M and H, respectively. Daily dry matter (DM) and CP intakes were only affected by diet (P < 0.05). Intake of DM (720, 812 and 859 g/day (SEM = 22.9)) was lower for L, but was similar (P > 0.05) for M and H. CP intake (105, 130 and 160 g/day (SEM = 3.5) was in the order of L < M < H (P < 0.05). The apparent digestibility coefficients of DM and CP were unaffected (P > 0.05) by genotype, diet or their interaction and were above 60%. Average daily body weight gain (ADG) were significantly impacted only by diet (P < 0.05), and ADG (37, 46, 54 (SEM = 4.0)) was greater (P < 0.05) for H than L with value for M being similar to L and H. Effect of genotype and diet x genotype interaction failed to be significant (P > 0.05) in all the main carcass parameters measured. Diet had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on hot carcass weight. Hot carcass weight (7.6, 8.2, 8.8 kg (SEM = 0.32)) was lower (P < 0.05) for L than H with value for M being similar to L and H. In conclusion this study highlighted that Washera and Horro sheep had a similar performance under the feeding regime used in this study, and it appeared that both breeds perform better in the diet containing the highest level of concentrate used in the current study.

Market chain analysis of fruits for Gomma Woreda, Jimma Zone, Oromia National Regional State

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Market chain analysis of fruits for Gomma Woreda, Jimma Zone, Oromia National Regional State Tadesse, A. In support of stimulating growth, economic development, food security and alleviating poverty, the analysis of the marketing performance of fruits plays an important role in an ongoing or future fruit development plan. In spite of the policy options provided by the Ethiopian government, there is very little empirical evidence on the fruit marketing system to design appropriate policies for its improvement of fruit marketing in the study area. Therefore, this study was aimed at analyzing the market chain of fruit for Gomma woreda, Jimma Zone of Oromia National Regional State with the specific objectives of identifying the major fruit marketing channels; quantifying the costs and margins for key fruit marketing channels and identifying factors influencing fruit marketable supply in the study area. In order to attain these objectives the study made use of primary and secondary data. The data were generated by individual interview schedules and focus group discussions using pretested semi structured questionnaires and checklists respectively. This was supplemented by secondary data collected from different published and unpublished sources. Structure, Conduct and Performance (SCP) approach was used to evaluate avocado and mango market and Multiple Linear Regression Model was fitted to identify factors influencing the marketable supply of avocado and mango in the study area. Structure of the market indicates that licensing and years of avocado and mango trade experience did not hinder entry into avocado and mango trade, but capital, education and market information were barriers to enter into the trade. Analysis of marketing costs and margins revealed that processors (juice house) received the highest (88.73%) marketing margin and producers received the least (11.27%) marketing margins in avocado and mango trade business. Based on regression model, the study has identified the main determinants of avocado and mango quantity supply. Quantity of avocado produced, experience, education and price of avocado in the previous year are factors that significantly affect quantity of avocado supplied to the market positively at 1%, 5%, and at 10% level, respectively while lack of market access affects the supply negatively at 10% level. Similarly quantity of mango produced, education and extension contact are factors that significantly affect quantity of mango supplied to the market positively. Therefore one of the most important variables influencing the market supply of avocado and mango is avocado and mango quantity produced due to this, extension work should focus on encouraging farmers to participate in avocado and mango production. This particularly includes, capacity building, technological applications, improved extension and plant breeding activities, there is also a need to increase new varieties that are disease resistant and disseminate these technologies to potential areas. The findings suggests that, effective market information service has to be established to provide accurate and timely market information to farmers and traders on current supply of avocado and mango output, demand and prices at national and regional levels. Infrastructural development is also a key to support the sub-sector. In this arena, emphasis should be given to improved storage and transportation system, offering credit and other services to improve effective production and marketing of avocado and mango.

The impact of input and output market development intervention of the IPMS Project: The case of Meiso Woreda, Oromiya National Regional State, Ethiopia

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The impact of input and output market development intervention of the IPMS Project: The case of Meiso Woreda, Oromiya National Regional State, Ethiopia Abebe, T. Improving Productivity and Market Success of Ethiopian farmers’ (IPMS) is a project that is being implemented by ILRI at 10 pilot learning woredas in the country to enhance market oriented production so that the country can overcome the problems of poorly developed agricultural production and marketing. Even though the project has been in place for over five years its impact has not been evaluated. Therefore, this study evaluates the impact of input and output market development interventions of the project on institutional and organizational aspect of markets, input use and productivity, total net income, marketed surplus and market orientation of the participant households. For quantitative analysis both program participant and non participant respondents were drawn and cross-sectional survey data were collected from 180 households in Mieso woreda. A propensity score matching method was applied to assess the impact of the project on outcome variables of the treated households. Results show that the market development interventions have a significant and positive impact on the outcome variables measured using different indicators. The intervention has resulted in positive and significant impact on level of input use for onion and goat production of the treated households. Participants earned more total net income on average from commodities of intervention over non-participants and also found to be more market oriented and supplied more of their produce to market over non-participants. However, some outcome variable indicators such as input use for cattle, net income from goat, land allocated for onion and proportion of goat allocated for fattening by participant households are positive but statistically insignificant. The sensitivity analysis also show that results are not sensitive to unobserved selection bias and were robust to the dummy cofounder. These results reveal that market development interventions of such kind play an important role for the overall transformation and development activities of the country.

Genetic variation in Moringa stenopetala germplasm of Ethiopia by using RAPD as genetic marker

Fri, 21 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Genetic variation in Moringa stenopetala germplasm of Ethiopia by using RAPD as genetic marker Beyene, D. The germplasm of Moringa stenopetala were assessed for genetic divergence within and among populations. Nineteen accessions that were represented by seventy-one individuals were studied. A total of 251 unambiguous bands were scored from OPA-13 primers. No common band was found for the entire populations. The range of mean diversity estimates of Shannon's index varies from 0.00 for Lasho and Berber to 0.3623 for Konso Gamolle within populations and the entire population was found to have the index of 0.3124. Similarly, Nie's mean estimates of diversity within populations range from 0.00 for Lasho and Berber to 0.2440 for Konso Gamolle and its entire population mean was 0.1818. The phenetic tree (dedrogram) constructed to evaluate relationships within populations was unable to discriminate 42% of the analyzed accessions. On the other hand, the range of the genetic distance was 0.00 to 0.41 and with a mean of 0.09.The genetic variability among the accessions was found to be low

The socio-economic and institutional dynamics of integrated watershed management: The case of Kanat and Magera micro-watersheds, Amhara National Regional State

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The socio-economic and institutional dynamics of integrated watershed management: The case of Kanat and Magera micro-watersheds, Amhara National Regional State Abuto, T.

Practices and challenges on economic empowerment of rural women in Halaba Special Woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Practices and challenges on economic empowerment of rural women in Halaba Special Woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia Hassen, B. Women’s economic empowerment helps to insure gender equality and the well being of nations. When women become economically empowered and get their own source of income definitely they insure the basic needs of the family (Raesser, Blumberg 2006). The purpose of the study was to assess the practice and challenges on economic empowerment of rural women in Halaba Special Woreda in S.N.N.P.R of Ethiopia. Standing from this objective, the study attempted to answer the basic questions of what are the factors that contributed to women’s economic dependency, the effort exerted by the government to empower women’s economically and the challenges in the implementation process. The study was conducted using descriptive study design. The total sample size of the study was 353 respondents from 6 kebeles of Halaba Special Woreda. After the representative sample size is determined using Cochran’s (1997) formula, simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the sample from the source population. The data collection was done through questionnaire for quantitative survey and interview for qualitative survey. After the data has been collected it’s analyzed supporting with tables and figures. The Challenges and practices on economic empowerment of rural women in Halaba Special Woreda were illiteracy rate among women’s, cultural influence, limited participation in decision making process, having limited access of land and other properties, inadequacy of organization that focus on women’s economic empowerment to deliver the needed services for credit availability were the main findings of the study . Even though, the government declared equality of property right for women, most of them in the study area were not entitled to land.

Methane production and energy partitioning in Bos indicus cattle (Borana breed) fed on selected tropical feeds in Ethiopia

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Methane production and energy partitioning in Bos indicus cattle (Borana breed) fed on selected tropical feeds in Ethiopia Kebede, B.