Browsing by Author "G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Addressing Community’s Environmental Concerns in Higher Institutions: A Focus on Wolaita Sodo University and its Surrounding Rural Community
    (Addis Ababa University, 2011-06) Atebo, Eyob; G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)
    Many conventional research and educational system have given less attention to the needs and priorities of local communities. Hence, the potential to integrate indigenous and modern practices in dealing with the contemporary environmental challenges have been minimum. Therefore, this study has assessed the extent to which local community’s environmental concerns are being addressed through the core missions of Wolaita Sodo University with respect to environmental education processes and practices. The study has employed personal interviews,questionnaire, focus group discussions, and observation in addition to using available documents. The target population of the study comprised 1842 households; and 128 academic staff and 503 third year regular undergraduate students of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and Faculty of Natural and Computational Sciences at Wolaita Sodo University. Both household and student respondents were selected using stratified random sampling on the basis of kebele, gender, and faculty; whereas sample instructors were selected using systematic sampling method. The study revealed that there are environmental issues, such as land degradation, soil erosion, water pollution, deforestation, and waste disposal problems whose cumulative effects are disastrous from both human and ecological perspectives. However, the intervention of the institution in this regard through the three core function areas of teaching, research, and community service has been very limited. This has been evidenced by the subordinate position being given to local environmental issues in the curricula and instruction, theory-based nature of environmental education, failure of academic staff and students to take part in the community-based environmental protection activities among others. The study has also identified both challenges and opportunities for strengthening community-university collaboration from the perspective of these two parties as well as other concerned stakeholders. Based on the findings of the study, adaptation of the curricula and instruction to suit local environmental context, provision of action-oriented environmental education at different settings, empowerment of the academic staff and the community groups; and strengthening community-university collaboration through optimizing the existing possibilities while overcoming its associated barriers are some of the major potential measures suggested so as to re-orient the existing higher education system in the study area towards the one which is more sensitive to the local community’s environmental concerns
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Assessment of Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption level of Row Planting Technology and Yield Improvement on the Production of Eragrostis Teff [ZUCC.]: The Case of Minjar Shenkora Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-06) Getu, Behailu; G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)
    The main objective of this study is to assess farmers’ adoption level of teff row planting technology and the consequent improvement of yield and yield component achieved through the application of row planting technology on the process of teff production. Since teff is the most well known and widely consumed grain in Ethiopia for thousands of years, its importance beyond being staple food to the nations of the country is strongly tied to the socio-cultural settings of the country. Even though it is popularly consumed cereal, it was not given due attention the same as that of other grains in improving its productivity in major teff producing areas in the country. However, very recently with the provision of extension service to improve productivity of teff, row planting with the application of modern inputs have been introduced by MoA and its partners. Different reports and the media have reported that teff productivity has been increased wide spreading across the country. Therefore, to evaluate the impact of row planting technology on teff production and its challenges Minjar Senkora District is considered as a pilot area for its major production of teff. The two kebeles of Ararti Zuriyua and Korma are considered as a pilot area with purposive sampling. From the two sample kebeles a total of 113 respondents were considered for stratified and random sampling with 50 adopters and 63 non-adopters. Based on the findings of this study row planting technology improved the teff crop yield whereas its labor cost is very high compared to broadcasting. The quality of teff straw produced through row planting is very low for livestock fodder and construction material method. Due to adoption risk and vulnerability of teff production through row planting technology farmers in the study area prefer the application of broadcasting method of planting on account of its low labor cost, straw quality and application simplicity. The adoption of row planting method of teff sowing can be improved through farmers training in the demonstration centers and provision of row seeder machines. Keywords: teff; row planting technology; adoption
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Factors Affecting the Performance of Women Entrepreneurs in Micro and Small Enterprises in Gulele Sub-City, Addis Ababa
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-05) Girma, Getu; G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)
    This study assesses the major factors affecting the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs. It also addressed the characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and the challenges they face in the area of technical and business training supports from training colleges/institutes.A sample of 181 women entrepreneurs engaged in 5 sectors was taken for the study using stratified and simple random sampling. In the process of answering the basic questions, a questionnaire that include demographic profiles, characteristics of women entrepreneurs and their enterprises, factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and the challenges they face in technical trainings were designed in a closed ended and likert scales. After the data has been collected, it was analysed using simple statistical techniques (tables and percentages) and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations). The results of the study indicates the personal characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and their enterprise affect their performance .It also shows that lack of their own premises(land) to run their business, financial access given by micro finances or other lending institutions, inadequate access to business training,stiff competition in the market place, access to technology and access to raw materials were the key economic factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs. The study also found that conflicting gender roles or household responsibilities, network with outsiders and social acceptability were the major social factors that affect these entrepreneurs. The legal and administrative bodies are required to create an enabling environment for the growth and development of MSEs, but this study found that access to policy makers, high amount of tax, network with administrative bodies, interest rate charged and over all legal and regulatory environments were the main factors that affect women entrepreneurs.The study also found that customer service training, marketing training, financial report training and entrepreneurship trainings were the main challenges of the entrepreneurs. Based on the major findings, recommendations were forwarded to existing and potential entrepreneurs, MSEs, Micro finances and other government bodies
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    GIS Based Assessment of Road Traffic Accidents in Adama (Nazerth) City
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-06) G/Yesus, Berhane; G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)
    Adama (Nazerth) has become one of the traffic accident city in Ethiopia. In the city the numbers of fatalities, injuries, property damage and economic as well as social lose is increasing from time t time. The aim of the study is t identify and locate accident spot areas, temporal and spatial variation, the incident causes, effects and arrive at effective counter measures that can bring about a behavioral change for road traffic accidents in Adama city. The methods and procedures used in gathering the study data from the records or reports of traffic police. The primary data collected by questionnaires with close ended and open ended of two types. The first questionnaire is filled by officers, pedestrians, police, students and teachers of section of the population which consist sample of 80 which equally distributed 16 for each category of people. The second questionnaire is filled by the drivers’ consists of 60 sample size. The questionnaire filled by automobile, Bajaj, minibus, cyclists, truck and bus drivers randomly distributed. Descriptive analysis of the magnitude and variation of road traffic accidents collected from traffic police records as a form of secondary data. In order to investigate road traffic accident the research employed GIS techniques to identify accident spot areas. The result of the study revealed that occurrence of road accidents: fatalities, slight and serious injuries and property damage in the city showed an increasing trend. From unevenly distributed 1949 spatially road traffic accidents from the study period 2004/05 to 2013/14, 264 were death, 283 were serious injuries, 359 slight injuries and 1043 were property damage. The communication between traffic police and drivers’ seem unfair that one might benefit the other when committing violation of rule and regulation of traffic law rather educational measurement. Most of the drivers did not report an accident for the traffic police to take immediate measure. At the driver side wearing of seat belt, for some consuming alcohol and drug and using mobile phone when driving vehicles are problems identified the role of the pedestrians are also identified particularly when crossing road side in proper way. The study generally comments the way how to minimize road traffic accident with collaboration of government and other stake holders to intervene in the road traffic accident in Adama. Key Words: Accident Spot areas; Road Network; Road Traffic accident; Road Safety Law and Enforcement
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Indigenous Land Management Practices in Konso: South Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2014-09) Karse, Tamiru; G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)
    The overall aim of the study was to document indigenous practices at the grassroot, level to analyze the function of the practices and to evaluate influencing factors for different land management techniques as a method Konso selected due to its deep-rooted practice of indigenous land management. Accordingly the selection of the study Kebele is based on accessibility, average elevation, and different indigenous land management technique. Moreover different wealthrank groups were considered using random sampling and their fragmented plots have also been considered. Generally, the major finding of the study shows Konsocommunity use wide range of indigenous land management technologies including agronomic, biological and physical attributing to food security and sustainable resource management. Moreover, the different indigenous SWC technologies have a function of adapting to climate change. Moreover, the influencing factors for the practice are both environmental and socio-economic factors. It is concluded that the deep rooted indigenous conservation need to be integrated with modern technologies to assure the winwin in food security and sustain resource use
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Opportunities and Challenges of Promoting Sheno Butter as a Geographical Indication Product
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-06) Tadesse, Kassahun; G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)
    The overall objective of this study was to examine the possible opportunities and challenges of Sheno butter to be promoted as a Geographical Indication product for improving the socio economic condition of farmers. For this purpose, the necessary information were gathered through household questionnaire, focus group discussion, consumers and key informants interview and observation. Descriptive statistical analysis and triangulation method of analysis were utilized to present results and discussions. The finding of the study revealed that butter production in the study area is characterized by traditional production system based on local resource. The study also identified taste, color, aroma and texture as commonly perceived origin linked characteristics of sheno better. Moreover, the study revealed that driven by scarcity of natural pasture feeds, farm extension experts advice arose from agricultural policy strategy and inputs related factors, butter production system in the study area seems to be changed and this change would be a probable trend to be observed in the short and long term future in the area. Therefore, the study conclude that given the observed changing trend in production system, Sheno butter has uncertain potential to be promoted as a Geographical Indication Product, and at this moment promotion of the product as GIs can not be best option for improving the socio economic condition of producers. Based on simulations of the finding, the study forwards some suggestions and recommendations for researchers, policy makers and development practitioners for future action. Key words: Geographical indication, Livestock, Quality, Production system
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Pastoralists and Agro-Pastoralists Vulnerability to Climate change and Adaptation Response: The Case of Aysaita Woreda, Afar Regional State, Northern Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Ali, Hassen; G/Michael, Yohannes (PhD)
    This study was conducted in Aysaita woreda, Afar Regional State of Ethiopia with the objective assessing pastoralists ad agro pastoralists vulnerability to climate change and adaptation response in Aysaita woreda. The study was conducted in two rural kebeles of Galifage and Barga kebele. purposive sampling was used to select the study area and stratified sampling were also used by categorizing agro ecology and wealth status group. After strata simple random sampling was used to select 153 respondents in the study areas. In addition, 1 FGD in each kebele were made which have 7 members in the group comprising the elderly people men and women, rich people men and women, medium people men and women, poor men and women, model farmers and adult. The data were collected from primary data were selected from interview, FGD, observation, while secondary data were selected from project report and information at woreda level The key informant interview with resourceful 50 farmers and 4 development agent persons were conducted. The key informant interview included experienced people and community elders, including men and women also included woreda experts and kebele leaders. Suitable word and descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data. The result shows according to participant in the study area most of pastoral and agro pastoralist community perceived as temperature increased and decreased rainfall in their locality. The pastoralist in the study area is vulnerable and the cause of vulnerability in the study area like; drought, flood, shortage of water, governmental intervention. And this has led pastoralist to adverse impacts on the study area like: human and livestock loss, prosopis juliflora, deforestation, environmental degradation and famine, migration were the major impact in the study areas. Different local adaptation and coping mechanism like; mobility, fodder management, diversifying livestock and crops, selling of fuel wood and charcoal, change meal size, sharing risk, polygamy marriage, Handicrafts activities were used. hinders to do not make them their coping mechanism thus; limited access, lack of agricultural input support from GOs and NGOs, limited access and poverty are the major hinder in the study area. Based on the findings the following recommendations are forwarded: developing farmers’ awareness on how to managed their natural resources, introduce agricultural technologies & inputs, facilitating access to credit services, diversifying source of income, set backing of prosopis juliflora expansion, empowering women, controlling of Awash river. Key word: Climate Change, Vulnerability, Impact, Adaptation, Coping strategies