Search

Zelalem Desalegn,1,* Shemse Sebre,1,* Meron Yohannes,2 Aminu Seman,1 Welelta Shiferaw,3 Muluneh Ademe,1 Habtamu Biazin,1 Ededia Firdawoke,1 Yehenew Asemamaw,1 Brhanu Teka,1 Seifegebriel Teshome,1 Wondwossen Amogne,4 Adamu Addissie,5,6 Yirgu Gebrehiwot,7 Eva Kantelhardt,6 Tamrat Abebe1 1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 5School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 6Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany; 7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zelalem Desalegn, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Email zelalem.desalegn@aau.edu.et; tzollove@gmail.comBackground: When faced with a public health problem such as the COVID-19 pandemic, devising a test with an accurate and rapid diagnostic capacity is critical to contain the disease. We compared the diagnostic performance of a rapid antigen test in comparison with a reference method, namely a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.Methods: We enrolled patients with confirmed COVID-19 from two selected hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between January and November 2021. We assessed the performance of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Kit (SD Biosensor, Republic of Korea) in 200 nasopharyngeal and nasal swab samples.Results: Out of the 200 samples utilized for the diagnostic performance evaluation, equal proportion of the samples were confirmed positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 based on RT-PCR. Of the 100 confirmed positive cases, 95 showed positive results with the rapid antigen test, yielding a sensitivity of 95% (95% confidence interval [CI] 88.7– 98.4%). Of the 100 confirmed negative cases, there were three false-positive results, yielding a specificity of 97% (95% CI 91.5– 99.4%). The sensitivity of the rapid antigen test was higher for samples with an RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value ≤ 25 compared with samples with a higher Ct value.Conclusion: The finding demonstrated that the detection capacity of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Test meets the requirements set by the Ministry of Health Ethiopia. The high sensitivity and specificity of the test device indicate the possibility of using it for diagnostic and clinical purposes in resource-constrained settings such as Ethiopia.Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, antigen test

Abstract Background Globally, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is higher among patients with schizophrenia than the general population, and this leads to higher morbidity and mortality in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate the MetS prevalence among patients with schizophrenia in Ethiopia. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of 200 patients with schizophrenia recruited from Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Lipid profile and blood glucose levels were measured using Roche Cobas 6000 clinical chemistry analyzer. The prevalence of MetS was assessed based on National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Patients’ demographic information, clinical and laboratory data, lifestyle habits, particularly smoking and Khat chewing, were evaluated vis-à-vis MetS. Results The overall prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia was 21.5% (17.1% male, 29.6% female) where Low HDL-cholesterol value was the most common metabolic disorders components in both males and females subgroups. In the multivariate analysis, the positive and negative symptoms score (PANSS, AOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.001–1.054) was associated factors with MetS. Conclusion In Ethiopia, patients with schizophrenia were found to have higher prevalence of MetS than the general population. Physicians/health care providers should routinely screen patients with schizophrenia for MetS and initiate timely management of those who develop the syndrome to reduce the health cost from caring for NCDs, improve the patients’ quality of life, and prevent premature mortality.

Background: Population-based research on the prevalence and determinants of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive impairment is scarce in East Africa. Objective: To provide an overview of community- and population-based studies among older adults on the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in East Africa, and identify research gaps. Methods: We carried out a literature search using three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) using pertinent search terms. Results: After screening 445 publications, we identified four publications on the population-based prevalence of dementia, and three on cognitive impairment. Prevalence rates varied from 6– 23% for dementia, and 7– 44% for cognitive impairment, among participants aged≥50–70 years. Old age and a lower education level were risk factors for dementia and cognitive impairment. Physical inactivity, lack of a ventilated kitchen, and history of central nervous system infections and chronic headache were associated with increased odds of dementia. Female sex, depression, having no spouse, increased lifetime alcohol consumption, low income, rural residence, and low family support were associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment. Potential misclassification and non-standardized data collection methods are research gaps that should be addressed in future studies. Conclusions: Establishing collaborative networks and partnering with international research institutions may enhance the capacity for conducting population-based studies on dementia and cognitive impairment in East Africa. Longitudinal studies may provide valuable insights on incidence, as well as potential risk and protective factors of dementia and cognitive impairment, and may inform the development of targeted interventions including preventive strategies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Agriculture holds a crucial position in maintaining livelihoods and securing food sources, particularly in nations such as Ethiopia, where a substantial portion of the population depends on agricultural pursuits. However, meeting the growing demand for food production amidst population growth presents considerable challenges. Recent advancements in technology, particularly in the areas of Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer promising solutions to address these challenges. This paper explores the potential of integrating ML, DL, and IoT technologies in agriculture to revolutionize the sector. By harnessing data-driven insights, farmers can make informed decisions regarding crop management, soil health, and weather patterns, leading to optimized resource allocation and increased productivity. Moreover, IoT devices enable the real-time monitoring and control of agricultural operations, enhancing sustainability and productivity. Despite the opportunities presented by these technologies, there are also challenges to overcome, such as data quality, connectivity issues, and the need for farmer education. However, with concerted efforts and investment, Ethiopia and other agricultural regions can unlock the full potential of ML, DL, and IoT technologies to ensure food security, alleviate poverty, and drive economic development. This review paper offers perspectives on the present status, challenges, and future possibilities regarding the integration of ML, DL, and IoT in agriculture. It underscores the transformative potential of these technologies within the sector.

Land use and land cover changes significantly impact carbon storage capacity, potentially causing long-term climate change, as examined in the Upper Awash Basin over three decades. This study aimed to examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of carbon stocks in the Upper Awash Basin over three decades due to land use and land cover changes. Remote sensing, ArcGIS, and the InVEST model were used to map changes in land use and land cover, as well as changes in carbon storage. The model and software have proven as accurate and useful tools for mapping changes in land use, cover, and carbon storage, allowing researchers to assess environmental impacts, plan conservation strategies, and effectively monitor ecosystems. Between 1993 and 2023, forests, shrublands, and wetlands decreased by 27.7%, 41.7%, and 60.7%, respectively, while cropland and built-up areas increased by 9.7% and 154.7%, respectively. As a result, the overall carbon stock decreased by 15%, from 17,342,625 tons to 14,810,521 tons of carbon. Agriculture expansion, overexploitation of forests for wood and charcoal production, settlement, population growth, and urban development are the primary drivers of carbon loss. Despite the upper Awash River Basin’s importance for carbon storage and sequestration, changes in land use and cover increased carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. Thus, this study highlights the link between land use land cover change and shifts in carbon stocks, emphasizing the importance of sustainable land management practices for maintaining or increasing carbon storage capacity, mitigating the effects of climate change, and improving overall ecosystem function.

BackgroundGlobally, five million children under the age of five died in 2021. Asia and African countries contributed to 69% and 27.2% of wasting, respectively. In Ethiopia, out of 901 (10.1%) under-five children, 632 (8.1%) were found to be moderately wasted, and 269 (3.0%) were severely wasted. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of wasting and its associated factors among children between the ages of 6 and 59 months in Habro Woreda, Oromia, Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Habro Woreda from 25 August to 20 September 2020. In total, 306 participants were included in this study through a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire through a face-to-face interview, entered into EpiData version 3.1, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Predictors were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression analysis model and reported using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of wasting among children aged 6–59 months in the Habro district was 28%, with a 95% confidence interval [26.5, 32.2%]. Factors such as mothers illiterate [AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.14–10.47], households without latrines [AOR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.33–6.37], food-insecure households [AOR = 4.11; 95% CI: 1.87–9], households that did not receive home visits [AOR = 4.2; 95% CI: 1.92–9.15], did not eat a variety of food [AOR = 7.44; 95% CI: 2.58–21.45], sick children after discharge from the program [AOR = 6.55; 95% CI: 2.85–15.02], readmitted children [AOR = 3.98; 95% CI: 1.43–15.07], and wasting 3.42 [AOR = 3.42; 95% CI: 1.24–9.45] were factors statistically associated with outcome variables.ConclusionThis study noted that the prevalence of wasting among children aged 6–59 months following discharge from the Outpatient Therapeutic Program remains high. Educational status of the mother, availability of a latrine, separate kitchen in the household, household food insecurity, household dietary diversity, home visit, and admission type were significantly associated with wasting of children after discharge from the outpatient therapeutic program. Therefore, efforts that target these factors should be maximized to reduce the occurrence of wasting among children aged 6–59 months after discharge from the outpatient therapeutic program.

Abstract Background: Substance abuse among Human Immune Deficiency Virus-positive patients causes depression, carelessness, and anxiety, which in common results in a decrease in adherence to antiretroviral treatment. The purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of substance abuse and its association with adherence to ART drugs. Methods: The current study was conducted at three hospitals (Hiwot Fana Comprehensive University Hospital, Dillchora Hospital, and Jugal Hospital) located in East Ethiopia. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association of independent variables with the dependent variables. Results: In this study, 119 HIV-positive pregnant patients were included.While74.8% of the patients were adherent to their medication, the remaining 25.2% were nonadherent. The major reasons for nonadherence to ART medications prescribed were getting better (73.3%) and finishing medication (16.7%). Moreover, 96 (80.7%) respondents abused alcohol while 36 (30.3%) and 75 (35.6%) abused opioids and cigarette smoking, respectively. Mothers who abused alcohol were 38.1 times more likely to be nonadherent to ART medications for PMTCT [AOR = 38.1% CI: 21.47–56.54] compared to their counterparts. Additionally, mothers who abuse opioids were 19 times more likely to be nonadherent to ART treatment medication [AOR = 19, 95% CI: 2.46–19.46] than their counterparts. Furthermore, mothers who smoked cigarettes were 43.1 more likely to be nonadherent [AOR = 43.19, 95% CI: 8.42–187.84] than nonsmokers. Unemployment was also found to be associated with nonadherence to ART medication to PMTCT of HIV [AOR = 5.4, 95% CI: 2.8–5.7]. Smoking of marijuana/cannabis/hashish was not significantly associated with nonadherence to ART [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.084–0.355]. Conclusion: Abuse of alcohol, cigarette smoking, abuse of opioids, and joblessness were found to be significantly associated with nonadherence to ART medications prescribed to PMCT of HIV. Wheareas, smoking of marijuana/cannabis/hashish was not significantly associated with nonadherence to ART medications.

Abstract Backgorund Forest plays an important role in the global carbon cycle by sequestering carbon dioxide and thereby mitigating climate change. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the effects of land use/land cover (LULC) change (1989–2017) on carbon stock and its economic values in tropical moist Afromontane forests of the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve (MFBR), south-west Ethiopia. Systematic sampling was conducted to collect biomass and soil data from 140 plots in MFBR. The soil data were collected from grassland and farmland. InVEST modelling was employed to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of carbon stocks. Global Voluntary Market Price (GVMP) and Tropical Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) analysis was performed to estimate economic values (EV) of carbon stock dynamics. Correlation and regression analyses were also employed to identify the relationship between environmental and anthropogenic impacts on carbon stocks. Results The results indicated that the above-ground carbon and soil organic carbon stocks were higher than the other remaining carbon pools in MFBR. The mean carbon stock (32.59 M tonne) in 2017 was lower than in 1989 (34.76 Mt) of MFBR. Similarly, the EV of carbon stock in 2017 was lower than in 1989. Elevation, slope, and harvesting index are important environmental and disturbance factors resulting in major differences in carbon stock among study sites in MFBR. Conclusions Therefore, the gradual reduction of carbon stocks in connection with LULC change calls for urgent attention to implement successful conservation and sustainable use of forest resources in biosphere reserves.

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, Onchocerciasis is a prevalent neglected tropical disease, currently targeted for elimination with mass drug administration and community behavioral changes towards sustained control and eventual elimination. This study aimed to elucidate the awareness, perceptions and practices of endemic communities in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.Methods and materialsCommunity-based cross-sectional study triangulated with qualitative method was conducted from October-November, 2021. A multistage sampling was employed and data were collected using a pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of comprehensive knowledge and preventive practice. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated at 95% confidence interval (CI) and considered significant with a p-value of ResultThe overall prevalence of adequate comprehensive knowledge was 48.8% (95% CI: 44.9, 52.3), high risk perception was 18.7% (95%CI15.9, 21.4) and preventive practice was 46.9%(95%CI:(43.3,50.4). High risk perception[AOR = 1.95 95%CI: (1.32, 2.89] was statistically significant with comprehensive knowledge, likewise knowledge of mode of transmission [AOR = 2.64 95% CI: (1.44, 4.85)], knowledge of consequences [AOR = 2.12 95%CI: (1.21, 3.72)] and knowledge of preventive measures [AOR = 15.65,95%CI:(10.1, 24.2)] were statistically significant with preventive practice. The median risk perception was varied significantly between the groups by educational status, study district and age category. Qualitative evidence showed that there were great community knowledge gap about the disease.ConclusionCommunity knowledge, perceptions, and practices are unacceptably low. Risk perception was significantly associated with comprehensive knowledge, likewise knowledge of mode of transmission, consequences and preventive measures were significantly associated with preventive practice. This implies knowledge is a key component of effective prevention strategies as it is a necessary condition for the behavior change.

Lake Hawassa Basin (LHB)-the study area is known for its rich and diverse aquatic and terrestrial natural resource base. However, the prevailing environmental and social problems, such as land degradation, deforestation, pollution, resource exploitation, etc. impacted the existing provisioning services (PS), and the effect becomes remarkable unless sound management is in place. The study aimed at the assessment and mapping of PS to suggest development options for decision-makers. The study employed various methods including primary and secondary data collection, including existing Land Use Land Cover (LULC), desk review, stakeholder consultations, site visits, expert judgment matrix, and ArcGIS v10.1. The study results include 6 PS identified and prioritized from the existing 14 PS, mapping of the spatial pattern of the selected 6 PS at the basin scale, and alternative development options recommended for the decision-making process conducted by decision-makers and development partners to ensure efficient management of ecosystem services in LHB. The importance of this study, as well as the simplicity and user-friendly nature of the methods and approach adopted, enables interested parties to replicate while conducting similar studies in different places within the country or globally. The intervention of adopting this study approach helps also to avoid or minimize the aforesaid biophysical and socioeconomic environmental problems and ensure development activities planned or implemented in the respective study area are environmentally friendly, and socially acceptable, through sustainable management of natural resources. In this regard, decision-makers and development partners shall provide adequate consideration for this study approach and the result of demonstrating basin scale spatial variability of PS. This plays a vital role in the sustainable management of natural resources as well as provisioning services existing in the study area to benefit the community members, ensure human well-being, and secure the livelihood of the people residing within or around the Lake Hawassa Basin.

The adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices can improve soil quality and sustainably increase crop yield while slowing down the rate of ongoing degradation. This research assessed the effects of selected ISFM practices on soil properties at the Dire and Legedadi watersheds, central highlands of Ethiopia, in the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons. Eight treatments were selected (sole wheat, sole faba bean, 100% recommended NPS + urea fertilizers, 100% recommended vermicompost (VC), wheat with half dose both NPS + urea and VC, wheat and faba bean intercropping with half dose both NPS + urea and VC, wheat and faba bean intercropping with half-dose NPS + urea fertilizers, and wheat and faba bean intercropping with 50% VC). The treatments were studied on farmers’ fields using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that soil samples collected from each plot indicated significant differences in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Pav), exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Na+, and Kexc), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Soil pH and moisture showed improvement in combined fertilizers application compared to the preplanting soil sample. A combined application of VC and NPS + urea fertilizers significantly (p

This study assessed vegetation structure and regeneration status of woody species in Gerba Dima forest, southwestern Ethiopia. Ninety sample plots measuring 25 m × 25 m were laid through a stratified random sampling procedure. The studied forest was stratified into three forest strata based on its altitudinal variation. Stratum I was found at an altitudinal range of 1500−1800 m, while strata II and III were located at altitudinal ranges of 1801−2000 m and 2001−2300 m, respectively. All woody plant species with a diameter at breast height (dbh) equal to or larger than 2.5 cm and a height of at least 1.5 m were recorded. Analysis of the structure of the vegetation was conducted using frequency distribution of dbh, height, and importance value (IV). The regeneration pattern of the study species was assessed by employing the total count of seedlings and saplings. The density of woody species in the study area was 1829 individuals ha−1. Basal area of the Gerba Dima forest was 65.05 m2ha−1. Total densities of seedlings, saplings, and trees/shrubs were 4558 ha−1, 2149 ha−1, and 1515 ha−1, respectively. Structural analysis and assessment of the regeneration status of woody species in the Gerba Dima forest showed that the overall ecological condition of the forest was healthy as indicated by inverse J-curve dbh distribution, which showed a large number of individuals in lower dbh classes. Furthermore, a large number of seedlings and saplings were recorded for most species, in addition to the presence of a sufficient number of matured trees. However, some species exhibited abnormal population structure and abnormal patterns of regeneration characterized by fewer or no individuals in lower dbh, as well as in seedling and sapling stages. It was thus concluded that species with abnormal population structure and regeneration status (e.g., Sapium ellipticum and Trichilia dregeana) require urgent conservation attention.

BackgroundGlobal evidence on psychosis is dominated by studies conducted in Western, high-income countries. The objectives of the Study of Context Of Psychoses to improve outcomes in Ethiopia (SCOPE) are (1) to generate rigorous evidence of psychosis experience, epidemiology and impacts in Ethiopia that will illuminate aetiological understanding and (2) inform development and testing of interventions for earlier identification and improved first contact care that are scalable, inclusive of difficult-to-reach populations and optimise recovery.MethodsThe setting is sub-cities of Addis Ababa and rural districts in south-central Ethiopia covering 1.1 million people and including rural, urban and homeless populations. SCOPE comprises (1) formative work to understand care pathways and community resources (resource mapping); examine family context and communication (ethnography); develop valid measures of family communication and personal recovery; and establish platforms for community engagement and involvement of people with lived experience; (2a) a population-based incidence study, (2b) a case-control study and (2c) a cohort study with 12 months follow-up involving 440 people with psychosis (390 rural/Addis Ababa; 50 who are homeless), 390 relatives and 390 controls. We will test hypotheses about incidence rates in rural vs. urban populations and men vs. women; potential aetiological role of khat (a commonly chewed plant with amphetamine-like properties) and traumatic exposures in psychosis; determine profiles of needs at first contact and predictors of outcome; (3) participatory workshops to develop programme theory and inform co-development of interventions, and (4) evaluation of the impact of early identification strategies on engagement with care (interrupted time series study). Findings will inform development of (5) a protocol for (5a) a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of interventions for people with recent-onset psychosis in rural settings and (5b) two uncontrolled pilot studies to test acceptability, feasibility of co-developed interventions in urban and homeless populations.

We investigated the effect of cubic and spherical quantum dot size and size dispersion (size non-uniformity) on the absorption coefficient of a quantum dot ensemble. The absorption spectra of the cubic and spherical quantum dots (QDs) ensemble are found to be strongly dependent on the average size of QDs and the size distribution of QDs. Furthermore, we studied the effect of cubic and spherical quantum dot size and size dispersion on the QD photocurrent and efficiency of quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs). It is observed that there is an optimum size and size dispersion of QDs to achieve maximum QD photocurrent and efficiency. Embedding InAs QDs into the intrinsic region of a GaAs n-i-p solar cell improves performance from 20.3% to an ideal maximum of 34.4% (QDSC with cubic QD ensembles) and 36.5% (QDSC with spherical QD ensembles). The result shows that spherical morphology is better than cubic morphology. This theoretical study demonstrates that to achieve the highest possible power conversion efficiency, a suitable QD shape, optimized QD size, and size dispersion must be selected.

The investigation of soil and water-related ecosystem services (ES) and recognizing the spatiotemporal effects of land-use and land cover changes (LULC) are essential for the formulation of conservation strategies. The research employed the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) models for the assessment of ES. The study was carried out in the Kaffa Forest Biosphere Reserve in Ethiopia, which is part of the eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspots. The aim of this investigation was to examine and map the temporal and spatial fluctuations in sediment retention, soil erosion, and water yield resulting from LULC modifications between 1986 and 2019, and to provide forecasts for the next three decades. According to the RUSLE analysis, the landscapes exhibited estimated soil losses ranging from zero to 1.5 tons ha-1 yr-1 in 1986, 2009, and 2019, respectively. The mean annual sediment exports for the years 1986, 1999, and 2019 were estimated to be 12.6, 9.9-, and 28.7-tons ha−1, respectively. The water yield of the site experienced a notable increase from 9.8 × 109 m3 in 1986 to 19.6 × 10 9 m3 in 1999, and subsequently rose to 39.3 × 109 m3 in 2019, which is considered to be a disadvantageous to the site. The study found a significant positive correlation between water yield and the expansion of settlement area (r = 0.99, P = 0.015) as well as agricultural land (r = 0.99, P = 0.05). It was also found that significant positive correlation found between vegetation dense area such as forest (r

The world’s water demand is increasing twice as quickly as the world’s population. Contrarily, the greatest problem facing humanity in the twenty-first century is the supply of food. During dry seasons, when water collecting is a crucial survival strategy, the communities in the study area experience water deficit for agricultural production. In this study, socioeconomic and biophysical parameters were considered to evaluate the water harvesting zone for irrigation practices. With the aid of this technology, water harvesting sites can be found in acceptable sites, and water resource management can be improved to address water shortages during the dry season when crops are at key stages of growth and filling. The integrated geographical information system/Remote Sensing (GIS/RS), Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), fuzzy logic, and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model were used to carry this out. Rainfall, drainage density, surface runoff, percentage of clay content, land use land cover, slope, lithology, lineament, and Euclidian distance to settlement and road were the criteria utilized to choose the Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) sites. The run-off was estimated using the SWAT model, weights for each influential component were determined using AHP, the input factor was standardized using fuzzy membership, and factors were combined using gamma fuzzy (ℽ= 0.9) overlay weighting. The model’s statistical performance was demonstrated by R2 values of 0.79 and NSE values of 0.77 for monthly calibration periods and R2 values of 0.81 and NSE values of 0.75 for monthly validation periods. The study area’s Rainwater Harvesting potential suitability classes covered very highly suitable (16.91%), extremely suitable (27.6%), moderately suitable (20.23%), low suitable (13.1%), and not suitable (6.43%), and restrictions (15.73%). The study’s findings could help decision-makers identify more lucrative and long-lasting irrigation investment options in the Keleta watershed and make better decisions regarding the development of irrigation projects there.

We report the theoretical results of improved solar cell efficiency form InAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded in the intrinsic region of n-i-p GaAs structure. The effect of QD layers on the QD solar cell parameters is explained in detail. For QD layers of 250, we obtained a maximum efficiency of 27.4%. Increasing the number of layers beyond the optimum value resulted in the decrease of efficiency. The presence of InAs QD layers in the cell structure results in a significant rise of the short circuit current density from 33.4 mA/cm2 without InAs QD to 45.4 mA/cm2 in the presence of InAs QD. At the same time, the efficiency of the cell increased from 20.5% without InAs QD to 27.4% with InAs QD.

AbstractThe article focuses on evaluating the technical efficiency of garlic production in northwest Ethiopia. The average yield in the region was lower than its potential, indicating a need to improve farming practices. Data were collected from 359 garlic producers using random sampling. The Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function was used to estimate technical efficiency, which was found to be 73%. This means that about 27% of potential garlic output was lost due to inefficiency. Factors such as land size, seed, fertilizer, insecticide, and oxen days were found to have a positive and significant impact on garlic production. On the other hand, factors like age, extension contact, distance, renting land, garlic disease shock, access to finance, and access to information were linked to technical inefficiency. The study suggests that investing in high-quality seeds, improved farming inputs, and access to information can enhance garlic output by leveraging its high efficiency level.

Abstract Background Studying the floristic diversity of a certain forest is a basic aspect of the design and management of forest vegetation; and consequently this study focused on the plant diversity and community analysis of the Sele-Nono forest. For the current study, plants were sampled from 90 plots using a stratified random sampling technique along the established strata of the study forest. In all the plots, both floristic and environmental data that were relevant to the study were collected following the state of the art. Based on the collected data, the community types, ordination, floristic diversity, and threats to the forest were analyzed using R-package and SPSS software. Results Cluster analysis produced seven distinct community types which significantly differed among themselves (Cophentic correlation coefficient = 0.785, P 12) of plant species at the landscape level (i.e., throughout the study forest). Deforestation for agricultural land expansion and degradation through selective logging are the main threats to the Sele-Nono forest. Conclusions The present study revealed that the Sele-Nono forest is a large and heterogenous forest at the landscape level (150, 325.27 ha; $${\beta }_{w}$$ β w >12). Moreover, it is one of the richest and diverse forest ecosystems in terms of plant biodiversity, and it could qualify to be labeled as a keystone ecosystem. However, currently it is exposed to a variety of threats. We recommend the forest to be developed into a biosphere reserve. We also recommend the prioritization of areas belonging to community types 2 and 6 of the forest for any possible conservation actions so as to maximize species richness and diversity of the native plants of the area.

We studied the local field enhancement factor (LFEF), absorption, and extinction cross sections of spherical, cylindrical, oblate, and prolate core–shell nanocomposites (NCs) theoretically and numerically using the quasi-static approach. By solving Laplace’s equations, we obtained expressions for the LFEF, polarizability, absorption, and scattering cross sections for each of the core–shell NCs. We found that the LFEF, absorption, and extinction cross section of spherical and cylindrical core–shell NCs possess two peaks whereas oblate and prolate spheroids show three observable peaks. Moreover, the prolate core–shell spheroid shows greater tunability and larger intensity of the LFEF than its corresponding oblate structure. Furthermore, spherical nanoshells are characterized by the higher LFEF than cylindrical and spheroidal core–shells of the same size and composition. When compared, even the smallest value of the LFEF of the spherical core–shell is 11.42 and 10.09 times larger than the biggest values of oblate and prolate core-shells, respectively. The study also indicated that for spherical and cylindrical NCs, the first two peaks of the LFEF and extinction cross sections are achieved at the same corresponding frequencies. Furthermore, all peaks of the extinction cross sections of the prolate spheroid are found to be the lowest while those of the cylindrical peaks are the highest. Where there are an equal number of peaks of different shapes, the peak values are different, showing that shapes of core–shell NCs determine the intensity, the number, and the positions of peaks of the LFEF and optical cross sections. Such NCs are promising for applications in optical sensing, bio-sensing, and electronic devices. Especially, gold coated core–shell spheroids have good potential applications in multi-channel sensing.

Ethiopia, with its wide altitudinal gradient is known for its rich biodiversity. But the natural vegetation in the country is highly threatened by alarming deforestation rate. This study was conducted to examine tree population structure and the natural regeneration of indigenous tree species in Tulu Lafto Forest which is located in Horo Guduru Wollega Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Western Ethiopia. Seventy-five quadrats of 400 m2 were systematically laid following an altitudinal gradient. In all the quadrats, diameter at breast height (dbh) and height of all woody plants with a dbh of 2.5 cm and above were measured and recorded. Seedlings and saplings of all woody species were also counted. In the forest, 145 woody species in 118 genera and 55 families were recorded. Although the overall population structure of the forest is an inverted J pattern, some selected tree species revealed irregular population distribution patterns. Seedling and sapling density analysis also showed some tree species have poor regeneration. Hence, species with irregular population distribution patterns and those that are missing from the juvenile phase (seedlings and saplings) require urgent conservation measures.

Abstract Background This study was carried out in Gerba Dima Forest, South-Western Ethiopia, to determine the floristic composition, species diversity and community types along environmental gradients. Identifying and interpreting the structure of species assemblages is the main goal of plant community ecology. Investigation of forest community composition and structure is very useful in understanding the status of tree population, regeneration, and diversity for conservation purposes. Method Ninety sample plots having a size of 25 × 25 m (625 m2) were laid by employing stratified random sampling. Nested plots were used to sample plants of different sizes and different environmental variables. All woody plant species with Diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5 cm and height ≥ 1.5 m were recorded in 25 m × 25 m plots. Hierarchical (agglomerative) cluster analysis was performed using the free statistical software R version 3.6.1 using package cluster to classify the vegetation into plant community types. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) ordination was used in describing the pattern of plant communities along an environmental gradient. Result One hundred and eighty plant species belonging to 145 genera, 69 families and comprising of 15 endemic species were recorded. Of these, 52 species (28.9%) were trees, 6 species (3.33%) were Trees/shrubs, 31 species (17.22%) were shrubs, 76 species (42.22%) were herbs, and 15 species (8.33%) were Lianas. Rubiaceae, Acanthaceae and Asteraceae were the richest family each represented by 11 genera and 11 species (6.11%), 9 genera and 11 species (6.11%), 6 genera and 11 species (6.11%), respectively of total floristic composition. Cluster analysis resulted in five different plant communities and this result was supported by the ordination result. RDA result showed altitude was the main environmental variable in determining the plant communities. The ANOVA test indicated that the five community types differ significantly from each other with regard to Electrical Conductivity and Potassium. Conclusions Description of floristic diversity of species in Gerba Dima forest revealed the presence of high species diversity and richness. The presence of endemic plant species in the study forest shows the potential of the area for biodiversity conservation.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of environmental and disturbance factors on plant community distribution in the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve (MFBR) in south-west Ethiopia. A systematic sample design was conducted to collect vegetation and environmental factors in four study sites. In a nested plot design, the vegetation data were collected from 140 main plots, i.e., 400 m2 (trees), 25 m2 subplots (shrubs, lianas, seedlings, and saplings), and 1 m2 (herbs), respectively. The plant community classification was performed using agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward’s Linkage method) in R software (version 4.0.1). The distribution of plant communities along an environmental gradient was computed using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). In this study, a total of 15 (9.5%) endemic plant species were recorded in MFBR. Four plant community types were identified, and these were Celtis zenkeri-Blighia unijugata, Pouteria altissima-Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius, Antiaris toxicaria-Celtis toka, and Dracaena afromontana-Cyathea manniana. Environmental and disturbance factors, such as elevations, slopes, harvesting indexes, soil pH, silt, and herbaceous cover, were the most important for determining plant community distribution in the area. Elevation and slope were found to have a significant (P

Abstract Background Hangadi watershed is endowed with the only virgin forest in Odo shakisso harbouring high biodiversity, but it has been suffered from anthropogenic activities. This study was conducted to investigate composition and community diversity of woody species in restoration for posterity. Satellite images of 1988, 2008, and 2018 were used to classify and analyse trends of deforestation. For both woody species and topsoil (0–30 cm), 20 m × 20 m, 100 plots laid at every 300 m along line transects, 1 km apart from each other. In each sample plot, woody species ≥ 3 m were counted, Shannon–wiener diversity index, cluster analysis and ordination were computed. Results Agroforestry is found to be the dominant land use/land cover class followed by forest and cultivated land. A total of 61 woody species belonging to 34 families; 8.2% of the species were endemic to Ethiopia. The highest number of species was recorded from families Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae (5 species, 8.2%), Rutaceae, Celastraceae, and Oleaceae (3 species, 5.08%) followed by Flacourtiaceae, Meliaceae, Araliaceaae, Myrsinaceae, Moraceae, Boraginaceae, Asteraceae, Spontaceae, Lauraceae and Sapindaceae (2 species each). Four woody plant communities were identified using free statistical software R version 3.1.1. The canonical correspondence analysis result showed that EC, pH, OM, altitude, C:N, CEC, sand, silt, AvP, and TN significantly affected species distribution in the watershed. Conclusion Local people involved in cutting mature woody species for timber production, making farm implements and, cultivated land expansion. Protection of woody species diversity of forest and coffee systems with low biodiversity value conservation concepts are recommended to be executed jointly by local people and stakeholders.

Abstract Background Allometric equations are used to estimate biomass and carbon stock of forests. In Ethiopia, despite the presence of large floral diversity, only a few site-specific allometric equations have been developed so far. This study was conducted in the Omo-Gibe woodland of south-western Ethiopia to develop an allometric equation to estimate the Above-ground Biomass (AGB) of the four Acacia species (Senegalia polyacantha, Vachellia seyal, Vachellia etbaica and Vachellia tortilis). Fifty-four (54) Acacia trees were sampled and measured within 35 temporarily established square plots. In each plot, dendrometric variables were measured to derive the models based on combinations of Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), height, and wood density as predictor variables. Model performance was evaluated using goodness-of-fit statistics. The biomass was compared using four allometric biomass models that have been widely used in the tropics. Results The model containing DBH alone was more accurate to estimate AGB compared to the use of multiple predictor variables. This study, therefore, substantiated the importance of site-specific allometric equations in estimating the AGB of Acacia woodlands. This is because a site-specific allometric equation recognizes the environmental factors, vegetation types and management practices. Conclusions The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of allometric equations and an accurate estimate of AGB of Acacia woodlands in Ethiopia and similar ecosystems elsewhere.

The purpose of this research is to determine the amount and value of carbon stock in Southwestern Ethiopia's coffee forest from 1978 to 2050, as well as carbon sequestration from 1988 to 2050. Different time-series satellite data were acquired and classified into land-use categories using ArcGIS and ENVI 5:0, followed by IDRISI forecasts up to 2050, and finally modeling with INVEST. Data were collected within the plot constructed in a systematic random sampling manner using quadrates 20 m X 20 m. The social cost of carbon (US$12/tCO2e) used to estimate the monetary worth of the services. Forest conversion anticipated to reduce the carbon stock by 1.86 Mt by the end of 2050, from 65.8 Mt in 1978 to 7.01 Mt in 2018. The rate of Carbon sequestration was 2.1Mt/year at the end of 1998, and it will be reduced to 1.49Mt/year by the end of 2050. Overall, 121.1Mt of CO2 is sequestered over 63 years, but there was also emission from deforestation and service loss (84.4Mt), resulting a net sequestered CO2 of 36.6Mt by the end of 2050. The total elemental carbon stock value in 1978 was $2. 896 billion, this will be reached $2.5billion ($9.175 billion CO2e) at the end of 2050. The value of sequestration will be estimated at $1.715 billion, but with a value loss of $1.153 billion, the net sink value from 1988 to 2050 will be $0.6 billion. In general, these findings show that the forest region will have a total storage and sequestration value (CO2e) of $9.775 billion by the end of 2050. The carbon worth in this forest area is thus a good indicator of the importance, and thus the value estimate here may well persuade policymakers to revise their forest-related policy and provide site-specific information to preserve this remnant forest.

Forests play an important role in erosion protection services, as erosion is a major threat to many canals and lower productivity in Africa. As a result, erosion modeling is critical for understanding the role of vegetation in erosion control. Therefore, this study was carried out in the forest of southwestern Ethiopia to assess the quantity and value of erosion prevention services using the InVEST model under the LULC scenario, as well as valuation using sediment removal costs and a productivity approach. The total soil loss from 1978 to 2018 was found to be 132,456,969 tons, with an additional loss of 162,050,779 tons expected until 2050. The cover factor has an effect on retaining soil earlier reach in to the stream, with an estimated soil protected from erosion of 104, 139,753,108 tons from 1978 to 2018, with a value of $14, 306,114 and $8,622,210 gain for Ethiopia from productivity progress. The downstream area saved $677,865,352 between 1978 and 2018, with an additional $408,545,451 saved from sediment removal costs until 2050. However, from 1978 to 2050, the net flow of erosion control benefit was approximately $22,928,325, with the forest accounting for 92.2% of the total. We conclude that the forest region in southwest Ethiopia has a substantially higher value for both upstream and downstream areas, and that both countries are responsible for maintaining this natural forest. As a result, governments in this region should pay special attention when done any land-related issues, and downstream countries should be encouraged to fund for this forest conservation.

Climate change has an impact on rainfall and temperature. In this study, changes in rainfall and temperature extremes in Upper Awash Basin (Ethiopia) from 1983 to 2016 were investigated using daily combination of observed and satellite data of ten meteorological stations. To determine the annual trends, two non-parametric methods, namely Mann-Kendall and Sen's slope estimator were utilized. In this study, RClimDex1.1 was utilized to compute the selected temperature and rainfall extreme indices. The Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) technique was used for spatial interpolation. The findings indicate significant trends in both annual and Kiremt (June – September) season rainfalls in two out of the ten stations, namely, Addis Alem and Koka Dam (p < 0.05). None of the ten stations exhibited significant trends for Belg (February-May) season. Overall, the mean rainfall trends of the basin indicate a considerable decline. However, from the spatial analysis, increasing rainfall and extreme events in the eastern portion of the basin were observed. Moreover, from average anomalies of the rainfall extreme indices of the entire basin showed a tendency of wetness. The maximum and the minimum temperatures displayed increasing trends in most of the weather stations (except in Addis Alem, and Kimoye for maximum temperature and Koka Dam, Hombole, Mojo, and Sendafa (AD) for minimum temperature). The temperature extreme indices showed increasing trends in TXx, TNx, TN90p, TX90p, SU25, and WSDI. The trend of the SU25 index indicated an increasing trend at 90% of the stations (p < 0.05). Overall, average anomalies of all temperature extreme indices of the entire basin (except TXn) revealed warming trends. The possible causes of these extreme events are the results of both local and global processes. Urban expansion and associated land use/cover changes could synergistically contribute to global warming. These findings are useful for the stakeholders in the region.

Ecosystem Service value (ESV) is a technique of assigning monetary value to the services and goods of an ecosystem. The rapid change in land-use land cover (LULC) is a major factor for the change in the capacity of Ecosystem Services (ES). Understanding LULC change and its impact on ESV is vital for decision-making processes. We quantify the spatiotemporal variation of ESV of the Kaffa biosphere reserve in association with LULC dynamics, which is part of the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot areas. Eight LULC types were identified following a supervised classification using a maximum likelihood technique in ArcGIS 10.5. The ES coefficients published by Costanza and others in 2014 were used to estimate the monetary value through the benefit transfer method. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to control the effect of coefficients on the estimated ESV. The results showed declining of ESV from US$ 5818 million to US$ 5536.9 million from 1986 to 2019 and are expected to decline to US$ 5222.8 million in 2049. The change in ESV revealed a total loss of 4.8%. The reasons for the decline in ESV of the biosphere reserve were the conversion of forestland, grassland, and wetland to settlement and agricultural areas. From the land-use types, the contribution of wetland, forest, and agriculture was the most dominant land use in ESV. Genetic resources, climate regulation, water regulation, and recreation were the highest contributors to the total ESV. We conclude that the cause for the decline of ESV is a land-use change that caused ecosystem degradation.

Forest fragmentation is a landscape-level process that comprises forest loss and changes in spatial patterns. Effective forest conservation programs thus require a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between forest cover and the spatial patterns of forest fragments. However, these matters remain less known for ecosystems in tropical regions. Hence, the study examines forest fragmentation of the Kaffa Biosphere Reserve in Ethiopia, which is a forested ecosystem of 744.9 thousand hectares. The study covers 33 years from 1986 to 2019 and forecasts for 2034 and 2049 using Landsat imagery. The land-use and land cover change maps were produced using a supervised classification following the maximum likelihood approach. The study quantified the spatial and temporal trends in forest loss and fragmentation using a multi-temporal satellite and FRAGSTAT raster dataset. The results display the forest areas declined from 46.9 to 30.5% from 1986 to 2019. The fragmentation caused an increase in the number of forest fragments from 4,067 to 8,832 from 1986 to 2019 but is expected to decline to nearly 2,000 in 2049 due to the complete conversion of small size forest fragments into other land use types. In addition, the size of the large core forest areas reduced from 43.7% in 1986 to 6.1% in 2019. The edge density of the forest declined from 30.5 to 27.1 m/ha from 1986 to 2019 and declined to 13 m/ha in 2049. The results confirmed natural and anthropogenic processes (e.g. agricultural and built-up area expansions and road network development) caused forest fragmentation and degradation in the Kaffa Biosphere Reserve. Therefore, the policy-makers should look at new options and revised the existed natural resource conservation strategies to safeguard the remaining natural forest covers.

Mengistu Benayew Shifraew,1 Muluken Teshome Shiferaew,2 Haymanot Zeleke Mitiku,3 Agumas Fentahun Ayalew4 1Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Salale University, Fiche, Oromia Region, Ethiopia; 2Departments of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia; 3Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia; 4Department of Public Health Salale, College of Health Sciences, Salale University, Fiche, Oromia Region, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Mengistu Benayew ShifraewDepartment of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Salale University, P.O.Box: 245, Fiche, Oromia Region, EthiopiaTel +251921578868Email mengistubinayew7@gmail.comBackground: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive status non-disclosure to a sexual partner is a public health problem where a high prevalence of HIV infection is reported in a region with poor partner disclosure status. This study aimed to assess HIV-positive status disclosure to sexual partners and associated factors among adult HIV clients at Debre Markos town, Amhara Regional State Ethiopia, in 2019.Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 406 adult HIV-positive clients in Debre Markos town from September 1 to 30, 2019. Epidata version 3.1 for data entry and SPSS version 25 for data analysis were used. Bivariable and multivariable logistic analyses at (p< 0.05) were performed.Results: From 421 study participants, 406 were participated giving response rate of 96.4%. The proportion of HIV status disclosure to sexual partner was 92.6%. Male sex (AOR = 2.863, 95%, CI = 1.147– 7.146), urban residence (AOR = 2.438, 95% CI = 1.032– 5.759), knowing sexual partner’s HIV status (AOR = 2.749, 95% CI = 1.015– 7.441), good anti-retroviral medication adherence status (AOR = 2.445, 95% CI = 1.023– 5.845), and being a member of an anti-HIV club (AOR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.314– 7.171) were factors significantly associated with HIV-positive status disclosure at p value < 0.05.Conclusions and Recommendation: The proportion of HIV-positive status disclosure to sexual partners was high. This study recommended that it is better to promote antiretroviral treatment adherence counseling, mutual partner HIV testing, and membership of anti-HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) club through extensive health education with particular attention given to females and rural residents.Keywords: human immunodeficiency virus; HIV, acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS, disclosure status, sexual partner

Abstract Background This study provides empirical evidence, for the contribution of forest provisioning ecosystem services to the local communities done on the Afromontum rainforest of southwest Ethiopia which is endowed with many Fauna and Flora. The study may give some representative evidence for policy-maker on behalf of conservation of the area. Methodology This study was done with the approach of focus group discussion and in-depth interviews of the rural community in southwest Ethiopia coffee forest. The role of forest provisioning services analysis was made by relative forest income (RFI) procedure based on the stratification category of the local ethnics and newcomers. Results The overall result indicated that seventeen forest provisioning services collected by the community from natural forest, however income were varied in relation to demographic features, the income from forest for local communities shown too high to which contributes 90.85% of the total income and have a long history of the link between this livelihood and forest. While forest also provides a considerable income for the new resettled community coming from elsewhere in the area but we observed non- forest income were the main source of revenue for this community. Conclusions The traditional and the indigenous communities used for access to a finite resource and considered the resource harvested from the forest are the central part of their economy and the relationships between forests and people’s livelihoods particularly for this remote community were complementary. Then planning should take into conceder, in policy perceptive, for supporting this remote community for livelihood improvement and conservation of this natural forest.

Background: WHO report of 2017 estimates that the rates of substandard and falsified medical products in low- and middle-income countries is approximately 10.5% with an estimated spend of US$ 30.5 billion.Objective: The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of different brands of metronidazole available in Jimma town, Oromia region, South West Ethiopia.Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma town, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. The study was conducted from May 03 – July 30, 2018. Samples were collected using convenience sampling technique. The samples were analyzed using methods specified in British Pharmacopoeia 2013 and United States Pharmacopoeia 2015.Results: All the seven brands of Metronidazole analyzed for quality passed identity test specification of BP 2013. The three brands of Metronidazole capsules passed weight uniformity and dissolution test specification of USP 2015. The seven brands of Metronidazole passed assay (i.e. drug content) test specification of USP 2015. The highest percentage of drug content, 107.81% and 105.56%, obtained for Metronidazole (generic)(capsule) and Nirmet(injection) respectively. However, statistical comparison of assay of respective brands of the respectivedosage forms at 95% confidence interval indicates that there exists significant difference in assay within and among the brands of the respective dosage forms (p

In this paper, we investigated the effect of shape and size of core on the plasmonic response of spherical ZnO@Au core-shell nanostructures embedded in a passive host matrices of MgF2 within the framework of the qausistatic approximation. The absorption cross-section and local field enhancement factor of spherical ZnO@Au core-shell nanostructures are effectively studied by optimizing the parameters for a fixed composite diameter of 20 nm. In this two-layered core-shell nanostructures, four plasmonic resonances are found; the first two resonances associated with ZnO/Au and Au/MgF2 interfaces, whereas the third and fourth resonances are associated with the transverse and longitudinal modes, respectively. The peaks position and intensity of these resonances are varied by optimizing the shape and size of the core material. The tunability of the plasmon resonances of the composite systems enables it to exhibit very interesting material properties in a variety of applications extending from the visible to infrared spectral regions.

Abstract Ecosystem services (ES) are growing fields of research. It helps to provide an inherent way to understand the synergy and trade-offs between human beings and their natural environment. Regulatory ecosystem services (RES) are significantly important to maintaining the world in which people can live, and control the negative effects of flood, disasters, and diseases. It can also provide regulatory services like ecosystem protection, human safety, and the provision of other ES. However, emerging ES decision-making agendas focus on ES that is tangible and has a direct link with human well-being. Thus, the attention given to RES is low due to its less tangible benefits and complexity to measure the benefits. Disregarding and lack of attention from policymakers and scientific community may lead to unintended risks to human well-being and significant influences on the provision of other ES. This study describes the research trends on RES, knowledge generated, and the major limitation. We concluded that though there is an exponential growth of scientific publications on ES, no adequate studies were found on RES. Also, the existed studies varied in their size and types of RES indicators covered, habitats/ecosystems, and geographic extent addressed. There was also a lack of connecting knowledge generated on the benefits of RES with the national policy of natural resource management, inconsistency of ES classification, and methodological diversity. Therefore, scientific communities are promoted to link RES studies with human health. Besides, the researcher should give priority for the least studied ecosystems and its services, developing robust methodology, and proposing management options to enhance the regulatory services of ecosystems.

Soil erosion is the main cause of topsoil loss in farming land, which results in reduction in cropland productivity. Soil loss estimation is crucial for developing soil and water conservation strategies for Ethiopia. The investigation aimed to estimate the soil loss in various intensifications of land use patterns, including slope categories, using the soil estimation model associated with the ArcGIS process. It is analyzed in Ethiopian conditions based on erosivity, soil erodibility, vegetative cover (C) remote sensing data, slop-length factor (LS), and management practices (P). The mean soil loss was relatively high (20.01 t ha−1yr−1) in the cultivated land, whereas it was lowest (0.17 t ha−1yr−1) under forest land. Soil loss in the watershed shows a significant variation under slope classification. Moreover, the land having a greater slope angle, or the upper slope of the watershed, contains maximum soil erosion, while the lower slope position has a minimum soil erosion rate. The validation shows that there is an insignificant variation between the predicted model and the experimental data. Therefore, this confirms that the model can be applied in the study watershed or elsewhere with similar agroecology to the study area. This research is also used to prepare an erosion management strategy for the conservation of soil and water in the watersheds.

Moist tropical forests have a significant role in provisioning and regulating ecosystem services. However, these forests are under threat of deforestation and forest degradation. In Ethiopia, the moist evergreen Afromontane forests have the potential for carbon storage and support a high diversity of plant species. However, it is under severe threat of deforestation and degradation.This investigation was conducted to obtain adequate information on the carbon stock potential of the moist Afromontane forest of southwestern Ethiopia. A comparison of carbon stock was conducted between disturbed and undisturbed forests. A systematic sampling design was applied for recording woody species and soil data. A total of 100 main plots of 400 m2 were laid to record trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm. The soil data were collected from 1 m2 subplots established at the four corners and the center of each main plot. The DBH and height were measured to calculate the aboveground carbon of trees and shrubs with DBH ≥ 5 cm. A total of 68 tree and shrub species belonging to 59 genera and 33 families were recorded. The mean carbon stock density was 203.80 ± 12.38 t·ha–1 (aboveground carbon stock) and 40.76 ± 2.47 t·ha–1 (belowground carbon stock). The highest proportion of aboveground carbon (t·ha–1) (42.34%) was contributed by a few tree individuals with DBH > 70 cm. The soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) (t·ha–1) for the depth of 0–30 cm is ranging from 58.97 to 198.33 across plots; the mean is 117.16 ± 3.15. The carbon stored in the moist Afromontane forest indicates its huge potential for climate change mitigation. Therefore, for the enhancement of forest biodiversity and carbon sequestration effective conservation measure and sound management approach is essential.

Agriculture continues to be vital to Africa’s future in both spatial and temporal contexts. Nonetheless, the sector keeps on confronting production challenges as a result of frequent and extended droughts, and these necessitate the use of drought-resistant crops such as sorghum. This review initiates one of the most common food grains grown in the poorest countries and the most food-insecure regions of the nation. We used deductive logical reasoning to develop a comprehensive scientific understanding of the crop that can be used to inform future research and policies. Various exclusion and inclusion criteria were used to filter the most prominent findings. Sorghum has the highest utility for its climatic adaptability and has grown for multiple purposes: From staple to industrial outcomes, its economic, social value, and health outcomes, and for animal silage. It is a gluten-free crop, has high nutritive value, and is preferred by healthy consumers. It is among the top five cereal crops worldwide in both production and acreage. This has necessitated the development of coping measures, such as the cultivation of drought-tolerant crops suitable for the affected areas. Therefore, this crop is used to ensure productivity, food security, and availability of food when other crops fail and food deficit and famine are affected in the region. This will contribute to the ongoing discussion on how to better inform private and public sector policy and investments in Ethiopia to increase sorghum and other drought-tolerant crop production, transform agriculture, improve nutrition, and food systems, and end hunger, food insecurity, and poverty.

The purpose of this research was to quantify and compare carbon stocks in two selected dry evergreen montane forests of the Choke Mountain ecosystem that are under different management regimes. The study also attempted to assess the carbon stock along environmental gradients. The average carbon stock throughout the whole plots investigated in Anshirava forest (protected) was 180.18 t·ha−1 (53%) in AGB, 111.43 t·ha−1 (33%) in soil, 36.43 t·ha−1 (11%) in BGB, 6.09 t·ha−1 (2%) in USB, 2.69 t·ha−1 (1%) in litter, and 1.36 t·ha−1 (less than 1%) in DW. In Ziba forest (high human intervention), the average carbon stock was 106.71 t·ha−1 (44%) in AGB, 100.07 t·ha−1 (42%) in soil, 21.34 t·ha−1 (9%) in BGB, 5.41 t·ha−1 (2%) in USB, 4.82 t·ha−1 (2%) in litter, and 2.00 t·ha−1 (1%) in DW. The AGB had the greatest carbon share in both forests, followed by soil. In Anshirava and Ziba forests, the mean total carbon stocks (TCS) were 338.18 t·ha−1 and 240.36 t·ha−1, with CO2 equivalents of 1241.14 t·ha−1 and 882.12 t·ha−1, respectively. The study indicated a significant variation between the two forests. Anshirava forest has larger total carbon stocks than Ziba forest. For lower, medium, and higher altitudes, the total carbon stock variation along an altitudinal gradient was 289.67 t·ha−1, 347.93 t·ha−1, and 414.89 t·ha−1 in Anshirava forest and 270.99 t·ha−1, 204.24 t·ha−1, and 224.82 t·ha−1 in Ziba forest, respectively. As a result, a greater amount of carbon was stored at higher altitudes in Anshirava and at lower altitudes in Ziba, with no significant difference in both forests. The total carbon stock variation along slope gradient was 392.60 t·ha−1, 344.59 t·ha−1, and 295.49 t·ha−1 in Anshirava forest and 258.74 t·ha−1, 222.46 t·ha−1, and 171.46 t·ha−1 in Ziba forest for flat, intermediate, and steep slopes, respectively. This resulted in higher carbon being stored in flat slopes in both forests. Also, only at the Ziba site, a significant difference was found along the slope gradient. In each forest, eight distinct aspect facings were observed, with the western (W) aspect containing the highest value of total carbon stock in both forests. Lower values, on the other hand, were recorded in the south (S) and flat (F) aspects of Anshirava and Ziba forests, respectively. The slope aspects of both forests varied significantly. As a result, the research reveals that environmental factors have a significant impact on carbon stock value of Choke Mountain forest ecosystem, but the impact is not consistent among carbon pools.

Food security is a key issue worldwide and must be considered in both spatial and temporal contexts. Securing the availability of food somewhere in a country does not ensure food security in other areas. Similarly, securing food available today does not guarantee its availability tomorrow. Therefore, parameters such as rapid population growth, urbanization, changing consumption patterns, and globalization, as well as climate change and depletion of natural resources, must be kept in mind while planning the issue of food security. In this regard, Enset, which is a large perennial herbaceous crop native to Ethiopia, is highly stapled to approximately 20 million people in the southern, eastern, and central parts of Ethiopia. It is a common practice in the agricultural system of these areas, making these areas Enset belt regions of the country. On the other hand, the remaining parts of the country often do not practice such farming systems despite the fact that there are good opportunities to do so. One way of expanding the experience of Enset culture is through promoting its food system and multiple-use dynamics. Hence, decision-makers and policy designers in the area of agriculture would consider intensifying Enset to its nonbelt areas, to transform agricultural and food systems to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition.

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of rural-urban labor migration and remittances on rural agricultural productivity. A rigorous random selection process was used to pick 480 households from cross-sectional data. For this investigation, both primary and secondary data were used. Stata version 16 was used to examine both qualitative and quantitative data using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and percentages) and econometric (three-stage least square technique) analyses. According to the descriptive data, the majority of respondents used their remittances for consumption, to acquire agricultural inputs, and to pay back their debts and tax payments. According to econometric studies, rural-urban migration has little influence on agricultural productivity. Remittances, cultivated land, livestock ownership, and extension services, on the other hand, have a positive and significant effect on agricultural productivity. In a nutshell, the link between migration, remittances, and agricultural output in agrarian and rural families is remarkable. Agriculture is the major source of income and mostly handles the liquidity issue. Agriculture production in the study region is labor intensive, and it is influenced by the amount of effort utilized in production as well as the socioeconomic characteristics of the household. As a result, it must address the major conundrum of agricultural productivity, particularly rural-urban migration and remittances. Address a knowledge gap, begin activities, and develop and implement multiple initiatives by various responsible stakeholders that are essential for the research topic. Furthermore, agricultural extension service delivery should be improved by timely recruiting, frequent agent training, and appropriate logistics.

Ethiopia’s oilseed industry makes a major contribution to foreign exchange revenues. Ethiopia’s three main oilseed crops (sesame, soybean, and Niger seed) account for about 20% of the country’s total agricultural export profits, second only to coffee. Even though Ethiopia is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of sesame seeds, the country is facing increasing supply and demand restrictions. This paper begins with an examination of one of the most prominent oil crops in the country. It is a highly adaptable crop that may be used for anything from subsistence to commercial output. We established a comprehensive scientific understanding of the crop using a systematic review of the current literature and deductive logical reasoning that can be used to inform future research and policies. Various exclusion and inclusion criteria were used to filter the most notable findings. Millions of growers and other market participants are employed throughout the oilseed value chain. Reduced sesame productivity, pests and diseases, and limited access to modern technologies are all severe supply-side constraints. On the demand side, traders and market distortion, as well as an artificially higher home price and the ease with which unskilled labor can enter the market, are all factors. Other demand-side constraints include worldwide price volatility, a highly concentrated export market, and intense global competition. Ethiopia’s sesame seed development potential is being severely hampered by these restrictions. If farmers, dealers, and the government do not address these issues strategically, the country may soon lose its competitiveness in the global sesame seed market. This will contribute to Ethiopia’s ongoing discussion about how to better inform private and public sector policies and investments to increase sesame production, transform agriculture, improve nutrition and food systems, and be able to ease supply- and demand-side restrictions. In a nutshell, an increased area under cultivation combined with best agronomic practices could boost sesame production. Farmers, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders must thus intervene to enhance sesame production. Future studies should concentrate on how to boost sesame output in farmers’ fields while following appropriate sesame production technology and agronomic principles.

Abstract Background Application of allometric equations for quantifying forests aboveground biomass is a crucial step related to efforts of climate change mitigation. Generalized allometric equations have been applied for estimating biomass and carbon storage of forests. However, adopting a generalized allometric equation to estimate the biomass of different forests generates uncertainty due to environmental variation. Therefore, formulating species-specific allometric equations is important to accurately quantify the biomass. Montane moist forest ecosystem comprises high forest type which is mainly found in the southwestern part of Ethiopia. Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve is categorized into Afromontane Rainforest vegetation types in this ecosystem. This study was aimed to formulate species-specific allometric equations for Albizia grandibracteata Tuab. and Trichilia dregeana Sond. using the semi-destructive method. Results Allometric equations in form of power models were developed for each tree species by evaluating the statistical relationships of total aboveground biomass (TAGB) and dendrometric variables. TAGB was regressed against diameter at breast height (D), total height (H), and wood density (ρ) individually and in a combination. The allometric equations were selected based on model performance statistics. Equations with the higher coefficient of determination (adj.R2), lower residual standard error (RSE), and low Akaike information criterion (AIC) values were found best fitted. Relationships between TAGB and predictive variables were found statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) for all selected equations. Higher bias was reported related to the application of pan-tropical or generalized allometric equations. Conclusions Formulating species-specific allometric equations is found important for accurate tree biomass estimation and quantifying the carbon stock. The developed biomass regression models can be applied as a species-specific equation to the montane moist forest ecosystem of southwestern Ethiopia.

Accurate and up-to-date information on spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover (LULC) is helpful in understanding the relationship between the environment and society. The main objective of this study was to quantify the overall trends in LULC changes and the rate of forest loss between 1986 and 2019 and projects for the years 2034 and 2049. Landsat satellite imagery acquired in 1986, 1999, 2009 and 2019 were selected to classify the LULC types with a supervised classification algorithm that uses the maximum likelihood classifier technique. The Kappa coefficient (90–92%) and overall accuracy (0.87–0.91) of the Landsat-derived LULC maps were within the acceptable range. The study results show the existence of spatiotemporal LULC changes resulting in serious forest losses. The analysis revealed that the considerable growth in agricultural land (87.9%) and settlement areas (157%) in the biosphere reserve during the investigation period resulted in a substantial decrease in the area of natural habitats. For instance, the grassland, forest coverage, and wetlands were declined by 74.3%, 30.5%, and 18.1%, respectively. The major drivers for the expansion of agricultural land and settlement areas in the biosphere reserve were the expansion of semi-forest coffee farm investment, human population expansion, resettlement campaigns, and poor follow-up on participatory forest management users. These socio-ecological drivers caused a decline in the proportion of natural habitat areas coupled with a decline in the quality and quantity of their ecosystem services. Thus, efforts are required to manage the ecosystems of Kaffa biosphere reserve through well-integrated landscape resource planning like zonation between economic development and conservation areas. As a result, the land use maps and other data produced in this study can contribute to the development of sustainable land use planning and biodiversity conservation.