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Assessment of Natural Resources in Ketech Watershed, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia
Berhan Asmamaw,
Birhanu Beyene,
Misikire Tessema
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2017
Pages:
1-8
Received:
3 January 2017
Accepted:
13 January 2017
Published:
16 February 2017
Abstract: A study was conducted in Machakel wereda, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia to assess the current status of natural resources in Ketech watershed. Purposive sampling methods were used to select kebeles (districts), and the respondents were selected randomly. A sample of 100 respondents from three kebeles (districts) was used in the study. The result revealed that 78% of the respondents said Ketech watershed is under high pressure, but 22% of the respondents disagree. Major threats to Ketech watershed were deforestation, overgrazing, agricultural land expansion, flooding and consequent gully formation, and their combined effects. The Pearson correlation also indicated the effect one variable has on the other, indicating a possible conservation measures to be taken in the studied kebeles. Logistic regression analysis predicted two variables (income generating activities and status of exploitation of common resources) to have a significant effect on respondents’ decision about the status of ketech watershed. A holistic approach to landscape conservation measures are highly needed so as to halt the ongoing environmental degradation.
Abstract: A study was conducted in Machakel wereda, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia to assess the current status of natural resources in Ketech watershed. Purposive sampling methods were used to select kebeles (districts), and the respondents were selected randomly. A sample of 100 respondents from three kebeles (districts) was u...
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Innovation, Diffusion of New Technology and Productivity Growth: Evidence from African Agriculture
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2017
Pages:
9-14
Received:
29 August 2016
Accepted:
17 January 2017
Published:
21 February 2017
Abstract: The paper studies the impacts of innovation and diffusion of new technology on productivity growth in African agriculture. Using FAO panel data, four output distance functions with linear programming method were calculated and the values used to obtain TFP growth estimates. The estimated TFP growth was decomposed into two distinct components associated with innovation and technology diffusion. The empirical results showed that TFP growth averaged 2.7% per year over the period studied. However, this performance masks the negative TFP growths (-1% to -2.8%) in the Sudan Sahelian, Eastern and Gulf of Guinea agro-ecological zones, respectively. This may be due to differences in the state of technology, the scale of production or efficiency. In terms of innovation and technology diffusion, a positive impact of innovation on TFP growth was observed only in two agro-ecological zones at 12.6% and 1.1% respectively. Whereas, the impact of diffusion of new technology was positive in all five agro-ecological zones at 2.5%, 2.4%, 2.3%, 2.1% and 0.2% in descending order of magnitude. Overall, the empirical results suggest that both innovation and technology diffusion have impacts on productivity growth, but the impact of technology diffusion is greater than the impact of innovation on agricultural productivity growth in the agro-ecological zones of Africa during 1986-2009.
Abstract: The paper studies the impacts of innovation and diffusion of new technology on productivity growth in African agriculture. Using FAO panel data, four output distance functions with linear programming method were calculated and the values used to obtain TFP growth estimates. The estimated TFP growth was decomposed into two distinct components associ...
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Factors Influencing the Red Meat Production in Damietta Governorate of Egypt: Factor Analysis Approach
Bader E. A.,
S. D. Z. Dawoud,
A. F. Helal
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2017
Pages:
15-26
Received:
22 January 2017
Accepted:
3 February 2017
Published:
25 February 2017
Abstract: In Egypt, the increasing demand for red meat caused by the increasing population, feeding limitations, and increasing cost of production, has become an impetus for meat producers to change the system of production. This study is to find out the main factors that influence the red meat production sector in Egypt. A factor analysis method was mainly used to determine factors which are important in red meat production. The analysis was based on data obtained by means of a questionnaire applied to a random sample of 48 red meat producers in Damietta Governorate in late 2016. The final results showed that five key factors were successfully constructed using factor analysis which are a production factor, a financial factor, an administrative factor, a biological factor, and a technological factor. The production and financial factors are important in producing red meat. The most important variables influencing red meat production are the number of animal units, and the volume of concentrated feed. The success of livestock enterprise depends on a prior experience in the field of meat production. High feed prices and fear of diseases were key challenges for determining red meat production. The availability of livestock feed is the major challenge for the red meat sector. Policy implication focuses on the necessity to increase the domestic production of red meat through facilitating the procedures of animal loans and encouraging the producers to increase the number of meat animals. Also, it becomes a necessity to increase the production of fodder crops and the appropriate vaccines.
Abstract: In Egypt, the increasing demand for red meat caused by the increasing population, feeding limitations, and increasing cost of production, has become an impetus for meat producers to change the system of production. This study is to find out the main factors that influence the red meat production sector in Egypt. A factor analysis method was mainly ...
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