Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.), is one of the top alien invasive weed species in more than 40 countries, including Ethiopia. It infests several crops and causes significant yield losses, the extent of which depends, among others, on the density of weed and characteristics of crop species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) weed density on vegetative growth and grain yield of teff (Eragrostis tef Zucc. Trotter) using field experiment. Factorial combination of two traditional teff landraces namely Nech and Seregegna; and three levels of weed density (0, 5% and 10%) were used in the study. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. To determine the extent of growth and yield loss caused by weed treatment, the differences between the means recorded for each trait at each treatment and weed free control plot were compared using Two-way ANOVA and the Tukey`s significant difference test. The results obtained in the study revealed that there was statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) on the effect of Parthenium weed density on vegetative growth and grain yield of the two landraces of teff studied. However, the difference between landraces was not significant. The mean maximum grain yield/plot (738.5 ± 49.2 gram) was obtained from control plot and the lowest grain yield/plot (482.2 ± 57.8 gram) was recorded from 10% Parthenium weed density treatment plot, which makes percent yield loss of 34.6% compared to the control plot. This in turn corresponds to a yield loss of 640.75 kg/ha. In general, the observed yield loss with increasing density of weed might attribute to reduction in availability of moisture, soil nutrients and light. Thus, there is a need for proper management of Parthenium weed starting from early period of seedling.

There is an urgent need for new sustainable solutions to support plants in facing
current environmental challenges. In particular, strengthening of productivity and
food security needs sustainable exploitation of natural resources and metabolites.
In this review, we fetch the attention to the agronomic potential of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) emitted from plants, as a natural and eco-friendly solution to
defend from stresses and to enhance crop production. Plants defense by emitting
volatile organic compounds communicate with herbivore-attacked neighbors
to activate defenses before being attacked. Many volatile compounds especially,
transcriptome and signal cascade analyses of VOC-exposed plants indicates that
plants snoop to prime direct and indirect defenses and to hone competitive abilities.
A diversity of emission responses have been observed from stressed plants.
Although, the similarities have been seen in bearing environmental stress, it is also
established fact that an emission of VOCs can be induced at any time from leaves
of all plant species following abiotic and abiotic stress.The present challenges
regarding changing environment which may hamper the use of VOCs in open field
are analyzed by several scientist and solutions for a better exploitation of VOCs in
future sustainable agriculture are envisioned.

study was conducted in southern Ethiopia to assess the impact of smallholder farmers’
managed wetlands on plants diversity and soil properties. Vegetation data were collected from 60
plots having (1m x1m) quadrats laid on five transects lines along the altitudinal gradient. Vegetation
data were analyzed using, descriptive statistics, Sorenson’s similarity, and Shannon-Wiener
diversity index and R. 2.14 software. Sixty composite soil samples were collected at depth of 0-15
and 15-30 cm to study soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen
and cation exchange capacity at a distance of 1m, 100 m, 200 m and 300 m from the wetland.
Moreover, 60 undisturbed soil core samples were collected to examine soil bulk density. Analysis of
variance (P<0.05) was employed to test the degree of variations. Result showed 65 plant species
were identified and grouped in 21 families. Of all families, Poaceae contains 12 species. The Sorenson’s
similarity showed highest similarity was observed between community one and two 85%
and lowest similarity were observed between community one and three 28%. The highest diversity
of species was observed in community four while the highest species evenness was observed
in community two. A soil bulk density (p =0.001) and EC significantly varied (p<0.001, p = 0.041
respectively) with distance from wetland. Similarly, variation was observed on silt, clay, soil bulk
density and CEC (p = 0.031, p = 0.046, p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively) along with the soil
depth. The soil near the wetland has shown improvements relative to the distance treatments. The
improvement in the soil properties near the wetland was due to higher soil organic matter (SOM)
input and less soil disturbance.

Understanding tree-crop interaction is a key aspect in determining approprate tree-crop combination
and managements. However, little is known about the influence of tree crop interaction and
tree management on crop productivity. The study was conducted with the aim of investigating the
effects of Faidherbia albida on yield and yield components of three cereal crops: wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.), maize (Zea mays L.) and teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) in Central Ethiopian
farmers field at Silti District.Three independent experiments were conducted using randomized
complete block design with five replications for each experiment. The treatments consist of five
radial distances at: 1.5m, 3.5m, 5.5m and 12.5m and contorl (25 m far from tree trunk). The yield
and yield components data were collected from four directions and then the average was taken for
analysis using one way ANOVA and mean separation was done using LSD at 5% significance level.
Results showed that yield and yield component of wheat and maize were higher under and near
the tree canopies than far from canopies. In contrast teff yield and yield component increased with
increasing distance from tree trunk. Plant height, number of tiller per plant, spike length, total
aboveground biomass and grain yield were all significantly higher (P < 0.05) for maize and wheat
associated with F. albida compared to outside the canopy. Whereas, results from teff showed lower
yield and above ground biomass close to the tree trunk compared to outside the canopy. The tree
also used for fencing, fuelwood, fodder, construction and income generation. Therefore, the present
study clearly showed that compatibility of maize and wheat under F. albida land use system are
better tree crop combination design not only to enhance cereal productivity but also other tree
benefits to farmers, while teff is incompatible to grow under F. albida land use system. Further
study is required for the detailed species physiological response of the studied crops to shade.

Different researches have revealed that Ethiopia has a number of environmentally-related problems that threaten national security. The country loses up to 2-6 percent of annual crop production due to climate uncertainties, with drought being the main national environmental challenge. Ethiopia has a high country risk index of 7.38, one of the highest in Eastern Africa, which underlies a high level of potential risk for conflict, both within the country as well as in the region. Again, Ethiopia has an environmental score of 7.67 which is a high risk level. Generally speaking, therefore, Ethiopia is identified as a hot spot for environmental concern. The main objective of this article is to present and discuss evidence of conditions of local environmental insecurity against the background of international experiences. This is with a view to justifying whether the country should consider or not the environment as a priority in its national security policy making and strategic planning. The article recommends reappraisal of existing environmental laws to take serious cognizance of environmental security as a major component of national security. The government is called to pay greater commitment and determination by establishing environmental security departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of federal affairs as well create common working platform among these ministries to provide intelligence and better readiness to combat any perceived threats emanating from the environment.

The quality of irrigation water directly influences the quality of soil and the crops grown in the soil. Quality of water used for agricultural purposes is directly proportional to the yield. The present study was conducted to find the quality of Gungua Badiya river water and its usability for agricultural purposes in Abaya district, West Gujji Zone, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia. To analyze the physicochemical parameters of the river water, nine samples were collected from upper, middle and lower parts of the river. The physicochemical parameters are analyzed to explore the usability of the river water are: pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnisium (Mg2+), Sodium ( Na+), Chloride (Cl- ) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and Soluble Sodium Percent (SSP). After evaluating the parameters, it is found that the river water is usable to agricultural purposes and meet the standards directed by UCCC, WHO and FAO.

The change in Ethiopia’s economic policy from small scale farming to large scale farming began with the global food and fuel crisis in 2007/8. This has led many countries including the Gulf States and several East Asian countries, to re-evaluate their strategies and secure land and water essentially to produce food and fuel. Consequently, in Ethiopia, more than four million hectares of land has been leased to investors for large-scale commercial farming out of which the total land area of 524,202.58 hectares has been distributed for both local and foreign investors in Gambella Regional State. Hence, the main purpose of the study was to assess the impacts of large-scale commercial farming on the sustainability of environment in Gambella regional state. To this end both primary and secondary data sources were utilized. The study found that, though the large-scale commercial farming is contributing to the economy both at national and regional level, it has adverse impacts on the environment. To mention a few, the unconstitutional procedure followed in land transfer, investors’ undue concern and care for natural resources, and the absence of guidelines and frameworks endanger the environment. In addition, the absence of synergy among actors contributed towards drastic environmental problems. Besides, the study found that the investment in the region is disconnecting the environment from its dependents (local people) and putting the sustainability of the environment in a query unless it is managed with immediate interventions by the concerned bodies.

This study investigates the nexus between the informal economy and women's livelihood improvement in developing economies like Ethiopia. Women in developing countries in general and in Ethiopian developing economy in particular face multi-dimensional challenges that include economic, political, social and cultural factors which undermine both of their agency and capability. The high incidence of poverty and family responsibility under such circumstances compels them to the informal sector where operations are far from getting policy support. The objective of this research is to investigate the role of the informal economy in improving the livelihood of women in terms of income, employment and reduction of poverty of households led by women operating in the informal sector in Dilla town.This research sought to examine the contribution of the informal sector to the livelihood improvement of women in Dilla town. The specific focus was on women informal sector operators in the street/trading areas. The study used quantitative and qualitative research methods in order to get a deeper understanding of how the informal sector is contributing to the improvement of the livelihood of women. Both qualitative and quantitative data sets were collected and analyzed. The qualitative data were analyzed by using a thematic analysis approach and the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical summaries. The findings of the study revealed that informal sector has a lot of contribution to improve livelihoods of women through employment creation, supporting incomes to the household, reducing poverty. The major reason to operate in the informal sector is to generate livelihood income and the pushing factors are unemployment, poverty and lack of source of income. The result also revealed that after they involved in the informal business, to some extent, the livelihood of women is improved. Therefore, by understanding this potential of the informal sector, the government in collaboration with the other sectors should work on it to create a better working environment.

The principal environmental problem in Ethiopia is land degradation in the form of severe soil erosion, gully formation and soil fertility loss. To overcome this problem, promoting appropriate land management technologies are best options. However, farmers’ decisions to use land management practices are determined by complex factor. Thus, this study was conducted in Gindara watershed with the objective of analyzing the status of farmers’ choice of improved land management practices and investigating determinants of farmers’ decisions to use improved land management practices. The total of 286 samples household heads were selected using randomly sampling procedure with sample size allocation procedures of probability proportional to size method. Data were gathered through questionnaires, key informant interview, field observation and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed and presented quantitatively using different statistical methods such as percentage, mean, frequency, Chi-square (categorical variables ) and (F-test for continuous variables), F-test and Chi-square test were employed to test the variation of the sample respondents towards farmers’ decisions to use improved land management practices and also used to describe the patterns of the sample data. The result of multinomial logic model indicated that respondent’ level of education, family size, access of credit, off-farm income, farm size and land tenure security of the households were positively and significantly determined farmers’ decision to use fanyajuu. The result also revealed that farmers' educational level, family size, access of credit, off-farm income, farm size, extension services and slope of farmland were positively correlated and significantly determined farmers' decision to use stone bund. Based on the finding of the current study, it is recommended that agricultural extension service workers should give due attention to these variables, which may greatly contributes farmers' decision to use improved land management technologies.

Prevalent occurrence of P deficiency in strongly acid soils is one of the major problems limiting crop production in high rainfall regions of Ethiopia where Phosphorus (P) fixation, nutrient leaching and soils erosion are common. This work investigated effect of liming and applied mineral P on the P transformation of acid soils of West Wollega, Ethiopia. To study the P transformations, P fractionation was carried out to determine distributions of P in the various P pools. The soils were categorized as strongly acidic in which the pH (H2O) values varied between 4.35 and 4.82. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soils ranged from 20 to28 cmolc kg-.1 Lime requirements to raise the soil pH to target values of 5.5, 6.5 and 7.2 varied from 4.27 to 8.18 tons CaCO3 ha-1. The total P contents of the studied soils ranged from 298.46 to 392.12 mg kg-.1 Available P( Bray I-P, Mehlich 3-P and CaCl2-P) ranged from 1.12 to 1.82 mg kg-1 and considered as very low available P content. On average, distributions of applied P in the various fractions of the soils followed the order: iron bound P (Fe-P) > aluminum bound P (Al-P) > calcium bound P (Ca-P) > easily soluble P (ES-P) > reductant soluble P (RS-P). Clay content was highly positively correlated with total P, Fe-P, Ca-P, organic P and Bray I -P (r = 0.86, 0.76, 0.88, 0.89 and 62 respectively at p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). CEC was significantly correlated with total P, Fe-P, Ca-P, organic P (r = 0.92, 0.98, 0.89 and 0.78 respectively at p < 0.001 and p < 0.01). Desorption of P in the Fe-P and Al-P fractions were highly affected by the pH while desorption of P in the other fractions were modestly affected. The recovered mean percentages of the applied P were different among the soil types and P treatments ranging from 44.30% to 90.83%. This indicates that with proper lime treatment and optimum mineral P application, plant availability of P be increased in acid soils that highly fix applied P fertilizer.

Rural youths are forced to look for non-farm income generating activities to sustain and secure their livelihoods
as well as to supplement their agricultural activities. However, their participation in nonfarm activities
is influenced by various and yet empirically unidentified factors in East Gojjam Zone. Thus, the aim of the
study was to identify factors that determine the participation of rural youths in non-farm income generating
activities in the study area. The study drew a sample of 360 rural youths through systematic random
sampling technique from three woredas of East Gojjam Zone. Data were collected using interview schedule,
focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics were applied to characterize the
sample households’ demographic, economic and institutional factors. The finding of the survey indicated that
participation in non-farm income generating activities is significantly influenced by eight variables. These
variables are family size of the household, marital status, education level, land ownership, credit usage,
market distance, mass media exposure and frequency of the household received extension service in a year.
Among these variables market distance, land ownership and extension contact have negatively affected
participation of youth in non-farm income generating activities. Agricultural extension service was skewed
towards rural youth who engaged in agricultural activities at the expense of those who engaged in non-farm
income generating activities. Market distance was also found to have a negative nexus with participation in
non-farm income generating activities. Among several challenges which hinder rural youths from participating
in non-farm income generating activities, lack of working capital and lack of working place were the
major ones. This study concludes that rural youths in the study area faced different challenges to engage
in non-farm income generating activities. Among those major challenges lack of working capital was the
first bottleneck to start non-farm business in the study area. Thus, rural development strategy should give
emphasis on promoting non-farm activities in rural areas to improve overall wellbeing of the rural youths.

Ethiopia owns the largest coverage of bamboos in Africa that sums up to more than 1 million
hectares. This constitutes about 67% of the total area of bamboo in Africa. Bamboo plays a
crucial role in the livelihood of the local people of Gedeo zone, south Ethiopia. However, the mass
flowering and mass death currently hit the bamboo forest of the zone and affected both the people
livelihood and the ecosystem of the area. Thus, this paper tries to highlight the consequences of
mass flowering of bamboo forest on the livelihood of rural community of the zone. Two districts
were purposively selected and 120 sample households were chosen randomly for data collection.
Both primary and secondary data were deployed to answer the stipulated objectives. Extensive
field observation, questionnaires, and group discussions were held to gather the primary data.
Additionally, documents and other available materials were also used as a secondary data source.
Descriptive statistics was conducted to analyze quantitative socio-economic data. Qualitative data
were summarized by condensing the collected information. The result of the study indicated that,
the local people have experiences of bamboo production using their indigenous knowledge. Lack
of awareness about the time of mass flowering and death exacerbated the incident. There was
no management plan prepared and used in the bamboo forest area. The flowering interval was
estimated and the coming time of flowering and death is expected to be after 75-80 years. Massive
socio-economic and ecological problems were also observed after mass flowering and subsequent
seed setting. Hence, now it is time to search for different strategies to stop or to reduce the influences
of mass flowering and death of bamboo in the area.

This study aims to evaluate the performance of the latest Regional Climate Model version
4 (RegCM4) to simulate the precipitation over the Horn of Africa. Although there are
several aspects in which the model can be improved, the focus of this study is to tackle the
problem of its moisture scheme. RegCM4 moisture scheme has fourteen moisture scheme
parameters, which can be tuned within the allowed physical limits. Each of the fourteen
moisture parameters have been varied around the current default setting and over 80
model runs have been performed for a domain defined by 60km resolution, 18 vertical
levels covering spatially the whole Africa and the major circulation patterns that derive
climate over the region. We have found physical sound set of moisture scheme parameters
to be used in the fourteen moisture scheme parameters that have significantly reduced
bias in RegCM4 precipitation; improved correlation of RegCM4 precipitation with respect
GPCP and CMAP; and captured seasonal and interannual variations over most of the 12
delineated homogeneous regions of Horn of Africa.

Viticulture is one of the major horticultural industries of the world, with the area of grapevines cultivated exceeding 7.9 million hectare. The grapevines belong to the family Vitaceae, which are mostly woody, tree-climbing vines, though a few have a shrubby growth habit. They have tendrils and inflorescences opposite the leaves. The grapevine fruit is used in a wide variety of products, ranging through fresh fruit, preserves, juice, wine and raisins. This review paper attempts to address a potential Asian Vitis species, as there was no sufficient information and most of the species were ignored in modern viticulture and enology. Vitis amurensis, Vitis heyneana, Vitis davidii, and Vitis yeshanensis are the most common and most popular species in Asia. The Vitis genus contains more than 70 species, with centres of origin in South Europe, Asia Minor, East Asia, and North and Central America. Asia is one of the major gene centres of origin for more than 37 Vitis species. Asian Vitis species have strong resistance against such diseases like Anthracnose, Ripe Rot, Powdery Mildew, Crown Gall and they can withstand environmental stress. Their germplasms can easily be crossed with V. vinifera and American Vitis species. Additionally, the berries of Asian wild Vitis species do not have the undesirable “foxy” flavour compounds commonly existing in the berries of American Vitis species. As the European grapevines are not well tolerant to different diseases, Asian wild Vitis have captured scientists and breeders’ attention in the grapevine breeding and wine industry.

In Ethiopia, rural-urban migration has been visibly dominated by the mobility of the youth. Scholarly works in the area have exhaustively identified the prominent causes as well as effects of this pattern of mobility. By going beyond the push-pull categorization, this study comparatively examines the role of social networks in the migration decision of young rural-urban migrants. Precisely, revealing the nexus between social networks, migrants’ perceptions of their home, and destination, vis-à-vis migration decision has been the concern of this inquiry. The study being of a qualitative type, interview and focus group discussion were employed as the main instruments of data collection. Having adopted a purposive sampling design, participants of the study were selected by using snowball and quota sampling techniques. The research has pursued a thematic design of analysis. By and large, young migrants’ perception consisted of mixed as well as erroneous characterization of their destination. Exaggeration of possibilities and reduction of impossibilities characterizes the defect in the flow of information from one end of the network to the other. As a result, the paradox between perceptions, expectations, and realities has urged migrants to rethink their choice of migration as a feasible response to their socio-economic circumstance. Social networks and migrants’ perception of their destination had played unequivocal role in the migration decision of both groups of the study. Besides, social networks determined not only migratory decisions but also sponsored it and have evidently played a role in the migratory projects of migrants.

Literature shows more of the world population turns to coffee consumption particularly Latin America, India
and China. Demand for the beverage is estimated to increase by nearly 25% over the coming five years.
On the other hand, global coffee production and supply is very unlikely to increase due to many factors.
To fill the expected gap between production and consumption, Ethiopia has a better opportunity. Current
productivity per hectare is about 647 kg which is lower than in many growing countries. Eventually, the
research developed 42 coffee verities among which 35 are selections and seven of them are hybrids. As
different coffee husbandry technologies enable to boost coffee production and productivity many agronomic
practices are generated and recommended along with coffee varieties. Major coffee diseases like (Coffee
Berry Disease, Coffee Wilt Disease and Coffee Leaf Rust) management options are also the knowledge
developed by research. Integrated weed management practice developed to mitigate weed infestation from
coffee farms enables us to reduce 65% yield loss. Among coffee quality maintenance technologies developed
is altitude based fermentation time. For altitudes 1200, 1200-1500, and >1800 meter above sea level
recommended 24, 24-48 and 48-72 hours fermentation period respectively. Improved coffee seed production
also remains the responsibility of the research. In this regard, until now, about 300,000 kg of improved seed
supplied in which estimated to cover about 300,000 hectares of land. Despite these all technologies, there
is a wide productivity gap among the research, modern plantation, and the national average productivity.
Even though developed technologies made considerable contributions to coffee production, productivity, and
quality improvement in Ethiopia a lot is remaining. The national average productivity only reached 30%
of the research results. This big gap in productivity range requires a wide utilization of research output
by development is crucial. Actually, this demands: (1) Aggressive scaling-up of proven technologies (2)
Managing coffee stands through mobilizing coffee sector rehabilitation and wide utilization of technologies
(3) Addressing research in unaddressed areas (4) Establish & support sustainable coffee seed system (5)
Establish viable extension system and consolidate the relationship of research and extension so that existing
technology can be disseminated. In general, the major interest of this review paper is to bold out the outputs
of existing national coffee research and to clearly show the gap between research results and development
wing. On the other hand, it will try to show how concerted efforts should be made to improve both the volume
and quality of coffee to the expected result to increased export revenue to the country.

The aim of this study was to evaluate different feed types collected from two districts (Ada’a and Adama zuria)
of two production systems (urban and peri-urban) based on season’s (dry and wet) in East Shoa Zone, for their
macro and micro mineral concentrations. Feeds in the selected districts comprised of roughages, concentrates, and non-conventional feeds. All feed samples were taken directly from the field supplied by the farmers. The feed samples were analyzed for the macro and micro minerals namely Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Co, using atomic
absorption flame emission spectrometer and P concentration was measured by the spectrophotometer. The critical level (CL) used in this article is defined as the concentration of minerals below the level considering the requirements for dairy cows. The mean calcium concentrations in roughage varied from (0.13 to 0.55%); concentrate (0.14 to
0.64%) and non-conventional feed (0.34 to 0.69%) DM respectively. Out of the total feeds analyzed only, 26.92%,
66.15% for roughage (natural grass hay, sugar cane tops, and silage) and concentrates (noug seed cake, ground maize, cotton seed cake, and lean seed cake), respectively were found to be deficient in Ca. The mean phosphorus and
magnesium values were not deficient in analyzed feeds. The mean Copper concentrations varied in roughages (6.99 to 10.65 ppm); concentrate (6.67 to 8.78 ppm) and non-conventional (6.31 to 9.72 ppm) DM respectively. When those values are compared to the critical value (< 8ppm) of feeds analyzed only 19.23%, 79.92% and 65.22% for roughage (Triticum aestivum, Medicago sativa, Pennisetum purpureum), concentrates (wheat bran, wheat middlings, noug seed cake, cotton seed cake and concentrate mix) and non-conventional feeds (brewery by-products industrial, poultry liters) respectively were found to be deficient in Cu. The mean Iron concentrations varied in roughages (68.5 to 176.80 ppm); concentrate (73.94 to 174.81 ppm) and non-conventional (65.92 to 157.93 ppm) DM respectively.
When those values are compared to the critical value of (50 ppm) of feeds analyzed only 48.1% and 34.8% for
roughage (natural pasture, Pennisetum purpureum), sugar cane top) and non-conventional feeds (brewery by-products industrial), respectively were found to be deficient in Zn. The interaction effect of dairy feeds for most analyzed feed samples were significantly different (P < 0:05) for all Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Zn within the study districts.
Similarly, the interaction effect between feed types and production systems were significantly different (P < 0:05) for Ca, P, Mg, Cu, and Zn but non-significant (P > 0:05) for Fe. Moreover, the interaction effect of feed based on sampling season was significantly different (P < 0:05) for Ca, P, Mg, and Zn but non-significant (P > 0:05) for Cu and Fe. Minerals such as Ca, Cu Zn and Co were present in inadequate amounts. Therefore, supplementation of these mineral elements is very likely to produce beneficial results in the ration of dairy. Hence, there is an urgent need for appropriate research to formulate area specific mineral mixture, and to devise supplementation packages for bio-available mineral salts.