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Africa's urbanization rate has quadrupled from 14% in 1950 to about 44% in 2022. A variety of urban growth models have been used to measure and monitor urbanization, its drivers and implications for urban planning and sustainability. This paper reviews the performance of various Cellular Automata (CA)-based urban growth models and their implications for the urbanization processes in Africa. To this end, we employ a systematic review approach to identify the final 18 articles published in Web of Science-indexed journals until 2022. Our review found that the CA-based urban growth model has been successfully used in Africa to track the impacts of urban growth, assess different city growth scenarios and compare the performance of various CA-integrated models. Yet, most of the reviewed CA-based studies have focused on more urbanized regions of the continent. The result also reveals that integrating the CA model with other statistical methods improves its broader application and practicality than a conventional CA model. Our findings give planners, policymakers, and other urban stakeholders a more in-depth understanding of the challenges of unplanned urbanization and the need for meaningful participation from urban stakeholders in city growth and sustainable land use management that balances urban growth and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extension professionals are expected to help disseminate agricultural technologies, information, knowledge and skills to farmers. In order to develop valuable and long-lasting extension services, it is essential to understand the methods of extension that farmers find most beneficial. This understanding helps adopt improved practices, overcome barriers, provide targeted interventions and continuously improve agricultural extension programs. Thus, assessing factors affecting farmers' choice of agricultural extension methods is essential for developing extension methods that comply with farmers' needs and socio-economic conditions. Therefore, we analyzed the factors affecting farmers' preferences in extension methods, using cross-sectional data collected from 300 households in two sample districts and 16 Kebelles in Ethiopia between September 2019 and March 2020. Four extension methods, including training, demonstration, office visits and phone calls were considered as outcome variables. We fitted a multivariate probit model to estimate the factors that influence farmers' choice of extension methods. The results of the study showed that the number of dependents in the household head, formal education and membership of Idir (an informal insurance program a community or group runs to meet emergencies) were negatively associated with farmers' choices to participate in different extension methods compared to no extension. On the other hand, the sex of the household head, farm experience, participation in non-farm activities, monetary loan access, owning a mobile phone, radio access and membership of cooperatives were found to have a statistically significant positive impact on farmers' choices of extension methods. Based on these findings, the government and the concerned stakeholders should take farmers' socio-economic and institutional traits into account when selecting and commissioning agricultural extension methods. This could help to develop contextually relevant extension strategies that are more likely to be chosen and appreciated by farmers. Furthermore, such strategies can aid policymakers in designing extension programs that cater to farmers' needs and concerns. In conclusion, farmers' socio-economic and institutional affiliation should be taken into consideration when selecting agricultural extension methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia is frequently mentioned as highly vulnerable to climate variability due to its climate-sensitive agricultural sector. As a result, this study aimed to examine farmers' vulnerability across the various agroecological zones (AEZs) in the Suha watershed based on survey data from 384 respondents. A considerable difference in the two-measurement index, livelihood vulnerability index and IPCC vulnerability index, was seen across the selected agro-ecological zones. The lowland AEZ was more exposed, had a lower adaptive capacity, and was more vulnerable than the mid/high AEZ. This was confirmed by the LVI-IPCC analysis result, which was found as −0.07, 0.03 and 0.18 for midland, highland and lowland AEZs, respectively. The variation is associated with the difference in agro-ecological and socio-economic factors of the respondents. The results suggested that building well firmed adaptation strategies based on agro-ecological scenarios are vital to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Further, understanding the physical and climatic diversity of each agro-ecological zone enables us to identify the appropriate requirements to adapt and minimize the vulnerability of smallholders' livelihood. In the meantime, adaptation measure based on the above index can be applicable at local area since the appraisal takes farmers' perception about climate variability into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to growing uncontrolled land-use change and urban expansion, farmers in urban fringes are struggling to sustain their livelihood. Farmers have been expressing their dissatisfaction at different times. This study analyzes the stakeholders' perspectives on the causes and outcomes of farmers' resistance to land-use change and urban expansion processes by zooming in on Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The paper is based on focus group discussions with farmers in the neighboring villages, local agricultural extension experts, and, subsequently, key informant interviews of local government officials. Juxtaposing farmers' and local experts' positions reveals that inadequate compensations during land expropriation, lack of good governance in the urban expansion process, and inaccessibility of infrastructures are primary reasons for the farmers' struggle against urban expansion in the urban fringes. This study provides insights into the consequences of unplanned urban development challenges and may inform research and policymaking on sustainable urban development in the area and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Suluh river basin is subjected to soil erosion due to land use and land cover change. Yet, the impact of land use/land cover change soil erosion has not been applied in the study area. Thus, the current study focused on the modeling of the impact of land use/land cover changes on soil erosion in the Suluh river basin, the northern highland part of Ethiopia. Landsat image data sources were used to achieve the objectives. Ancillary data was also used. The nearest neighbor's fuzzy way of classification and the land change modeler for modeling, and the revised universal soil loss equation model for estimating the soil erosion rate were employed. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study's findings confirmed that cultivated land, bare land, and built-up areas significantly increased while areas occupied by natural vegetation such as forest land, shrub lands, and grazing lands decreased at a rapid rate in between 1990 to 2018. The predicted results suggest the continuation of the trend up to 2048 if business as usual is continued. The annual mean of soil lost in the study area was about 36.31, 43.32, and 47.78 in the years 1990, 2002, 2018, and will be 56.54, and 71.62 tons per hectare per year in 2028, and 2048, respectively. When we consider 15 t ha-1 year-1 as the maximum tolerable soil loss (TSL) rate for ease of presentation, the areas above the TSL have increased from 88.3% in 1990 to 88.6% in 2002 and to 89.6% in 2018, and are expected to increase to 89.9% and 99.8% in 2028 and 2048 periods, respectively. Thus, land use and land cover change information and its impact on soil erosion should be taken under consideration by land use planners to apply sustainable land management activities in the Suluh river basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Tana is a shallow inland lake with an average depth of 9 m. It is fresh water lake with the total area of 3150 km2.The lake level has experienced a rapid water level fluctuation in recent years. The study was aimed at analysing the water level fluctuation of Lake Tana. Four Landsat images acquired at different times from the United States Geological Survey have been processed and analysed by using the ERDAS and ARC-GIS softwares to detect changes in the lake area through time. In addition to this, the long-time lake level and climate data obtained from National Metrological Agency were analysed using a linear regression model to complement the lake level change. Focus group discussion, key informant interview and direct observation were held to analyse the impact of lake level fluctuation on the livelihood of the community. The result of the study indicated that more than 180 km2 of Lake Tana area has been converted to farm and other land uses during the last 35 years. The climate variability has been observed for the study period. There was continuous lake level fluctuation because of land-use changes, climate variability and water regulation for hydropower productions. Water level fluctuation of the lake had impacted on land use and its environment. The land use and regulated water at Chara Chara weirs, which are the contributing factors for Lake Tana water level fluctuation, should be managed regularly and critically. Abbreviations: ERDAS, Earth resource dynamic analysis system; GLCF, Global Land Cover Facility; FGD, Focus Group Discussions; IPCC, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]