IPMS Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/372
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Assessment of sheep production system in Burie District, north western Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2013-09-15) Abebe, Yenenesh; Melaku, S.; Tegegne, Azage; Tegegne, F.The study was conducted in Burie District to assess the sheep production system and to identify and prioritize the sheep production constraints. Informal and formal surveys were conducted in four selected kebeles of Burie District, namely, Woheni Durebetie, Woyenema Ambaye, Denbun and Boko Tabo. The farmers interviewed in the informal survey were selected purposively and for the formal survey, by systematic random sampling method. Farmers rear sheep for two main purposes, for cash income and home slaughter on festivals. On average, one household had 3.7±2.46 heads of sheep (n = 127). Washera and Horro sheep breeds were found in the area. There were more Washera sheep (98%) in Woheni Durebetie Kebele and more Horro sheep (92%) in Boko Tabo Kebele. The main feed resources for sheep were natural pasture and stubble grazing. Most farmers supplement common salt and Atella (a local beer (Tela) residue) to their sheep. Feed shortage occurs both during the dry and rainy seasons in the highland kebeles. There was a deficit of 0.7 ton DM feed per household per year in the highland kebeles. The sheep production system is subsistence-oriented. Sheep diseases, lack of adequate veterinary service and feed and nutrient shortage were the main sheep production constraints in the area in that order of importance. To improve sheep production in Burie District, these constraints should be given more emphasis in research and development activities that are going to be undertaken in the study area.Item Sheep breeds, traditional breeding and flock structure in Burie District, north western Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2013-12-15) Abebe, Yenenesh; Melaku, S.; Tegegne, Azage; Tegegne, F.This study was conducted to assess the sheep breeds, traditional sheep breeding practices and flock structure in four selected representative rural kebeles in Burie district North Western Ethiopia. Informal and formal surveys in the selected kebeles were conducted. The farmers interviewed were selected by using random sampling method. In addition, sheep flocks within the selected kebeles were selected and body weight (BW) using hanging scale, sex and age (estimated based on dentition) of the animals were measured and recorded. There were two sheep breeds in the study area, Washera and Horro. The proportion of the sheep breeds in the sheep flocks among the study kebeles was different. There were more Washera sheep (98%) in Woheni Durebetie kebele and more Horro sheep (92%) in Boko Tabo kebele. On average, one farmer had 3.7±2.46 heads of sheep per household (n = 127). The mean body weight of sheep in the sheep flocks was 21.6±9.34 kg (n = 1211). The proportion of male and female sheep in the sheep flocks was 30.5% and 69.5%, respectively. Farmers in the study area practice crossbreeding Washera with Horro breed. There is a possibility of inbreeding in the sheep flocks. In addition, more productive male animals are being sold, slaughtered or castrated at a young age, so, there is a chance to reduce the population of such animals in future generations. To bring improvements in sheep production and to maintain genetic diversity in the sheep flocks in Burie District, proper sheep breeding system should be planned and implemented.Item Effect of supplementation of grazing sheep with groundnut cake and wheat bran(Journal Article, 2022) Abebe, Yenenesh; Melaku, S.; Tegegne, AzageThe experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of groundnut haulm and maize bran mixture supplementations on feed intake, digestibility, body weight gain and carcass characteristics of local sheep fed hay basal diet at Salga sheep farm in Assosa district, Western Ethiopia.The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments consisting of six blocks with four animals per block based on their initial body weight of 20.12 ± 0.05 kg (mean ± SD).Treatments comprised of feeding natural pasture hay ad libitum T1 = 0; T2 = 100% maize bran (MB); T3 = 50% MB and 50% Groundnut haulm (GNH), and T4 = 100% GNH.The amount of supplements offered was 300 g/day/animal on DM basis.The daily feed intake, daily body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, dry matter and nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics parameters were measured during the experimental period.The study result indicates that the crude protein (CP) contents were 7.12% and 11.6%, and the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents were 67.9% and 57.5% for natural grass hay and groundnut haulm, respectively.The total DM intake was higher (P < 0.001) in T4 (941 g/day) followed by T3 (937 g/day), and T2 (934 g/day).However, the control group (T1) consumed relatively higher basal dry matter (DM) (767 g/day) as compared to all other groups.Local Sheep supplemented with T4 had significantly different (P < 0.001) FBW (33.2 vs 24.3 kg), FCE (0.17 vs 0.08) and ADG (156.2 vs 46.4 g/day) as compared to the control group.The mean DM, How to cite this paper:Item Assessment of sheep marketing system in Burie district, North Western Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2013-03-15) Abebe, Yenenesh; Melaku, S.; Tegegne, AzageAssessment of the sheep marketing system was carried out through informal and formal surveys in selected kebeles and in selected sheep markets in Burie district in north western Ethiopia to assess the marketing system and to identify the constraints of sheep marketing in the area. The farmers interviewed in the selected kebeles for the informal survey were selected purposively and for the formal survey, by systematic random sampling method. In addition, three sheep markets namely Derequa, Burie and Kuche were selected and data were collected from these markets for this study. Farmers on average had 3.7 heads of sheep (n = 127, SD = 2.46) per household. On average, one household in the study area sold 1.1±1.40 heads of sheep (n = 127) per year. Farmers mainly sell sheep during Easter, New Year and Christmas. Sheep from Burie district and neighbouring districts and even neighbouring region enters into Burie district for marketing. Among the constraints identified in sheep marketing lack of market information service, sheep market price fluctuation during some months of the year, lack of market infrastructure and remoteness of markets to the producers that sell sheep were the main ones. To make improvements in sheep marketing system in Burie district, these constraints should be given more emphasis in research and development activities that are going to be undertaken in this area.Item Agricultural knowledge management in dairy production improvement: The case of Bure woreda, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region(Journal Article, 2011-10-15) Assefa, H.; Gebre-Egziabher, T.; Sehai, Ermias; Tegegne, AzageThe Government of Ethiopia concentrates on agricultural and rural development for its economic development. Dairy development is one of the components of agricultural development. To improve dairy production in a certain locality, dairy producers should be able to access and use appropriate knowledge for a particular problem at the right time. This research was conducted to assess the agricultural knowledge management system in Bure district. Primary and secondary data were collected from primary (i.e., dairy producers and experts of different Governmental Organizations (GOs) and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) using a semi-structured questionnaire and checklist) and secondary sources (literature reviews). The survey reveals that maintaining the health of animals, providing green pasture to their milch cows, animal selection and using crossbreed cows are the major mechanisms used by dairy producers to improve milk production in the district. This knowledge/mechanism was obtained from Woreda Agriculture and Rural Development Office (WARDO), their own experience, neighbors, family, by observing the activities on a farm, and listening to radio, and from sharing sessions and on-farm demonstrations. A majority of the dairy producers use the new knowledge with partial modification. They also transfer the knowledge to their neighbors, friends, relatives and children. Therefore, the concerned bodies should promote and strengthen the existing good practices in knowledge management processes.Item Interdependence of smallholders’ net market positions in mixed crop-livestock systems of Ethiopian highlands(Journal Article, 2012-04-12) Jaleta, Moti; Gebremedhin, BerhanuItem On-farm evaluation of the effect of concentrate and urea-treated wheat straw supplementation on milk yield and milk composition of local cows(Journal Article, 2010-08-15) Kebede, A.; Tegegne, F.; Mekuriaw, Z.; Tegegne, AzageItem AFLP analysis among Ethiopian arabica coffee genotypes(Journal Article, 2008-09-17) Dessalegn, Yigsaw; Herselman, L.; Labuschagne, Maryke T.Item Dry forest based livelihoods in resettlement areas of Northwestern Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2012-07) Abebaw, D.; Kassa, H.; Kassie, Girma T.; Lemenih, Mulugeta; Campbell, Bruce M.; Teka, W.While the importance of forests for livelihoods has long been well-recognized, empirical knowledge of the factors influencing the extent and diversity of household engagement in the extraction of forest products across different socio-economic groups remains limited. In this paper, we use primary data collected through a household survey of 180 households in a resettled dry forest areas of Northwestern Ethiopia. The paper mainly aims at identifying the main drivers of household behavior regarding collection of main forest products in the context of dry forest environment. A multivariate probit analysis was used to explain variation in household participation in collection of different forest products. The results show that households' participation in collection of different forest products is significantly determined by a combination of household demographic characteristics, ownership of oxen and of cows, proximity to forest, access to health and school infrastructure, resettlement history and self-reported change in standard of living. The estimation results also suggest households most likely to engage in collection of forest honey, gum, and wood for fuel and other purposes are those located farther from the forest. Policy implications and outlook for further study are discussed in the paper.Item Structure-Conduct-Performance of Cotton Market: The Case of Metema District, Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2011-02-15) Bosena, T.; Bekabil, F.; Gebremedhin, Berhanu; Hoekstra, DirkThe efficiency of cotton market chain that can have great influence on farm level supply of marketable cotton was evaluated for Metema District of Ethiopia, using structure-conduct-performance approach. Market concentration ratio (CR4) at District level was 49.76 percent and there were observed barriers to entry into the cotton market. These structural characteristics indicate oligopolistic structure of cotton market at the District level. Cotton market at ginneries and textile factories were highly oligopolized by two ginneries and three textile factories. Buying, selling, and pricing strategies, which are indicators of market conduct showed deviation of cotton market from competitive market norms. The performance of cotton market chain analyzed using Marketing Margins supplemented with analysis of costs incurred and gross profits generated for different market chain actors, showed poor performance of the chain. In the chain farmers are the most disadvantaged chain actorsItem Factors affecting cotton supply at the farm level in Metema District of Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2011-02-15) Bosena, T.; Bekabil, F.; Gebremedhin, Berhanu; Hoekstra, DirkCurrent available records show that Ethiopia is receiving negligible benefits from its cotton and textile products export partly on account of low production at the farm level. Our objective was to study factors responsible for the low production. The factors affecting farm level marketable supply of cotton were analyzed using Robust OLS regression analysis. Results showed that size of land allocated for cotton, productivity per hectare and access to credit were significant factors affecting farm level marketable cotton supply. Based on the study, policy interventions required to increase the supply of cotton were suggestedItem Beekeeping sub sector challenges and constraints in Atsbi Wemberta District of eastern zone, Tigray Region, Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2011-01-15) Abebe, W.; Puskur, RanjithaThough beekeeping is a common farming enterprise and income generating activity in Atsbi Wemberta, and promotional efforts were made to improve it, no systematic study has been undertaken to evaluate the promotional efforts and people’s response to it. The objectives of the study were to identify beekeeping sub sector constraints; and to assess perception of beekeepers towards improved beekeeping practices. Ranking revealed that drought, honeybee pests and disease, shortage of beekeeping materials, death of colony, lack of adequate extension support, marketing problem, shortage of bee forage, lack of skill and reduction of honeybee colonies were found to be the major constraints in this sub sector development of the district. Perception of beekeepers was also found to be positive towards improved practices. Extension, research and NGOs should enhance research and extension activities on absconding management, selecting moisture stress tolerant bee forage, developing a technology from locally available materials.Item Marketing value-chain of smallholder sheep and goats in crop-livestock mixed farming system of Alaba, Southern Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2011-04) Kocho, T.; Abebe, G.; Tegegne, Azage; Gebremedhin, BerhanuThis study was conducted in Alaba district of Southern Ethiopia to describe smallholder sheep and goats marketing systems, identify marketing constraints and suggest improvement options to enhance incomes of smallholder producers. Informal and formal study tools of focused group discussion, key informant interview, household survey and rapid market appraisal were employed to gather information from development partners, smallholder farmers, traders, transporters and consumers. Smallholder farmers sale sheep and goats to fulfill immediate household cash needs, particularly to acquire food items. Smallholder producers, small and large traders, brokers, transporters and consumers are the major market participant across the market channels. Mode of marketing is mainly on ‘eye-ball’ basis with one-on-one price negotiation. Farmers market animals of different age, sex and weight either at farm gate or local markets, while a range of traders are involved at various stages of markets until the animals reach final consumers. Supply, demand and price of animals have clear seasonal variations. Abuse by brokers, lack of price information, access to incentive markets, poor market infrastructure and seasonality of markets are the major challenges in improving benefit and livelihood of smallholder sheep and goat producers. Commercialization of smallholder systems, standardizing marketing with marketing information and infrastructures, integrated intervention of the market channels along the value chains and market actors, formation of marketing groups and co-operatives could improve marketing efficacy and profitability of smallholder sheep and goat system.Item Small ruminant production in coffee-based mixed crop-livestock system of Western Ethiopian Highlands: Status and prospectus for improvement(Journal Article, 2010-10-01) Shenkute, S.; Legasse, G.; Tegegne, Azage; Hassen, A.The study was conducted in Goma district of Jimma Zone of Ethiopia with the objectives of documenting the reasons why farmers in coffee dominant mixed-farming systems of western Ethiopia keep small ruminants, and identifying the constraints and opportunities for improvement of this sector. Results are based on diagnostic survey of 160 sample households, group discussions and personal observation. The study district was stratified into three groups based on flock distribution as: sheep dominating, goat dominating and mixed flock sites. The average land holding per household was 1.93 ha. In Goma where coffee and chat are the major cash sources for farmers, small ruminant are also primarily kept for cash generation as reported by 94% of the sampled households. The second main reason for keeping small ruminant in the study area was for saving mainly in time of coffee failure. Keeping small ruminants as a source of manure was the third important reason. From the interviewed households, 59.4, 32.1, 23.5, and 19.4% of them utilize communal grazing, aftermath grazing, roadside grazing, and riverside grazing, respectively for their animal as a sources of feed. Most small ruminants are either tethered or herded all the seasons due to the cultivation of perennial crops and predators. All small ruminants are housed for protection from adverse weather conditions and predators. The major problems for small ruminant production and marketing were: feed and grazing land shortage, lack of input, predators, diseases and parasites and marketing problems. In order to exploit the current growing demand of small ruminant meat at local and international markets, research and development interventions are required with regard to the identification of alternative feed resources and strategic feeding management, identification of causes of diseases and their control methods and improving marketing efficiency through appropriate policy.Item Characterization of village chicken and egg marketing systems of Bure district, North-West Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2010-10-01) Moges, F.; Dessie, TadelleA study was conducted to assess the existing village chicken and egg marketing system of Bure district, North West Ethiopia. A participatory rural appraisal and a formal survey were used to collect all the relevant data, using a multistage sampling technique. Seven farmer kebeles (2 from high land, 3 from mid altitude and 2 from low land agro ecologies) and a total of 280 village chicken owner households were selected and considered for the study. In addition, 30 chicken and egg collectors (middle men) were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. All local and urban markets were visited once in a month in all seasons of the year. The result of the current study revealed that there was no any formal chicken and egg marketing operation in the study district. The result showed that 69.3% and 99.6% of interviewed village chicken owners involved in marketing of chicken and eggs, respectively. Producer-Consumer, Producer-Middle men, Producer-Retailer, Middle men- Retailer, Middle men-Consumer were the prevailing chicken and egg marketing channels of the study district. According to the result of the study village chicken owners traveled, on average, a distance of 5.5km and 15.9km to reach to nearby local markets and urban markets, respectively. It is identified that the majority (59.3%) of chicken owners used both hand carrying (hanging birds with a piece of stick) and carrying birds with bamboo-made containers to transport live birds to markets. The result of the current study revealed that the price of chicken and eggs showed variation between months of the year. The percentage increase in market prices of chicken products at holyday market days, as compared to ordinary market days was 19.2% for cocks, 15.3% hen, 24.2% for pullets/cockerels and 16% for eggs. Some of the major marketing problems identified in this study were: low supply of marketable chicken products, presence of only few/limited market out-lets and lack of appropriate marketing information. It is suggested that chicken and egg marketing of village chicken producers can be improved through development of market information system at farmer’s level and strengthening of agricultural extension services, through trainings and advisory services.Item Assessment of village chicken production system and evaluation of the productive and reproductive performance of local chicken ecotype in Bure district, North west Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2010-07-04) Moges, F.; Mellesse, A.; Dessie, TadelleA survey was conducted in Bure district, North West Ethiopia, from 2007 to 2008 to assess the existing village chicken production system. A participatory rural appraisal and a formal survey were used to collect all the relevant data, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Seven farmer administrative kebeles (two from high land, three from mid altitude and two from low land agro-ecologies) and a total of 280 village chicken owner households were considered for the study. The result revealed that the dominant (83%) chicken production system was an extensive/traditional type of production, using a majority (97%) of local chicken ecotypes, managed mainly on scavenging with seasonal supplementation of home grown grains and household food leftovers. The purposes of chicken production were sale for income (51.4%), egg hatching for replacement (45%), consumption (44.3%), use of birds for cultural and/or religious ceremonies (36.4%) and egg production (40.7%). The average flock size per household was 13 (ranged 1 - 57), with a hen to cock ratio of 3.7:1. Only 22.1% of chicken owners prepared a separate overnight house for birds and the rest (77.9%) kept birds in various night sheltering places. The result revealed that 97.5% of interviewed chicken owners experienced chicken disease problems, mainly Newcastle disease (98.2%). The result indicated that 95% of village chicken owners used only traditional means to treat sick birds. The average age of cockerels at first mating and pullets at first egg were 24.6 weeks and 27.5 weeks, respectively. The average number of eggs laid/clutch was 16 (ranged 8 - 28) and the number of total clutch periods/hen/year was 4 (ranged 2 - 6). The annual egg production performance of local hens, under farmer’s management condition, was 60 eggs/hen (ranged 24 -112). The average number of eggs incubated/hen was 13 and 11 chicks, on average, were hatched from them. The average hatchability performance of local hens was 81.7%. However, survivability of young chicks was only 60.5% (ranged 0 -100%). High hatchability performance of local hens (81.7%) and high mortality of young chicks (39.5%) were the two contradictory features for the existing village chicken production system of the district. Seasonal diseases outbreaks (84.3%) and predation (11.4%) were the major causes of chicken loss in the district. Women were the major responsible members of the household involved in various chicken husbandry activities like cleaning bird’s house (38.6%), feeding birds (81.7%), selling birds (83%) and selling eggs (54.6%). Only 37.5% of interviewed chicken owners got appropriate extension services related to modern chicken management practices. The result of the study revealed that there is a great interest to boost up the existing village chicken production and productivity. This should be considered as an opportunity and potential to design and implement interventions, aimed at improving production and productivity of village chicken in the district.Item The centre of information [Regional information centres promote crop production in Ethiopia](Magazine Article, 2009-06-15) Sehai, ErmiasRegional information centres, equipped with a variety of ICTs, promote crop production by documenting and sharing good agricultural practises among farmers in Ethiopia.Item Centre d'information [Des centres d'information favorisent la production agricole en Éthiopie](Magazine Article, 2009-06-15) Sehai, ErmiasDes centres d’information régionaux, équipés de diverses TIC, favorisent la production agricole en documentant et faisant connaître les bonnes pratiques aux paysans éthiopiens.Item Staple food crops turning into commercial crops: case studies of teff, wheat and rice in Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2008) Gebremedhin, Berhanu; Hoekstra, DirkTeff, wheat and rice are becoming important market oriented crops in Ethiopia. This study aims at measuring the level of market orientation of households in these crops, identifying the important market places and market outlets used by producers, and analyzing the determinants of market orientation in these crops. Results are based on analysis of data collected from community (peasant association) and household surveys in three districts in three regional states of the country in 2005. Analysis of descriptive information and econometric analysis are used. About 65 - 77% of households produce these market oriented commodities in the study areas, on about 27 – 44% of the total cultivated land. About 47 – 60% of the produce of these market oriented commodities is sold. The important market places for producers of these commodities are the district town markets and markets located at the peasant associations within the district. Wholesalers and retailers are the most important buyers from producers. Average distance to market places for these commodities is about two walking hours. Econometric analyses show that market orientation of households is affected by a host of factors related to household demographics, household endowments of human and physical capital, access to institutional services, and village level factors. Size of cultivable land and traction power, and household labor supply are important factors that induce households to be market oriented. While household size tends to favor food security objectives, number of dependents is associated with market orientation. Population control measures could contribute to market orientation through their effect of reducing household subsistence requirements. Our results also imply that interventions to improvements markets operations in order to benefit producers need to consider the operation of district level markets. Improving the operations of factor markets of land, traction and farm labor could contribute to enhancing market orientation of farm households. Special attention is needed to female headed households in the process of commercial transformation of subsistence agriculture. The development and institutionalization of marketing extension warrants due consideration.Item Smallholders, institutional services, and commercial transformation in Ethiopia(Journal Article, 2009-11) Gebremedhin, Berhanu; Jaleta, Moti; Hoekstra, DirkThis article examines the role of institutional services of credit, input supply, and extension in the overall commercial transformation process of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. Survey data collected in 2006 from 309 sample households in three districts of Ethiopia are used for the analyses. Tobit regression models are used to measure the effect of access to services on the intensity of inputs use for fertilizer and agrochemicals. A probit model is used to measure these effects on the adoption of improved seeds. Intensity of use of seeds is analyzed using an ordinary least squares model. Logarithmic Cobb–Douglass functions are estimated to analyze the effect of access to services on crop productivity. Heckman's two-stage estimation is used to examine determinants of household market participation and the extents of participation. Results show that access to institutional support services plays a significant role in enhancing smallholder productivity and market orientation. Our results imply that expanding and strengthening the institutional services is critical for the intensification and market orientation of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. In particular, appropriate incentives and regulatory systems are urgently needed to encourage the involvement of the private sector in the provision of agricultural services.