Ethiopian Journal of Science and Sustainable Development

Endogeneity, Heterogeneity and Determinants of Inefficiencies in Crop-Producing Farmers: Evidences from Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Oumer Beriso — 2025-01-05

Agricultural sector is crucial for Ethiopia's overall economic growth and has notable spillover effects. Hence, it is essential to conduct recurrent analysis of production performance, investigating efficiency level and inefficiency differentials, which are key indicators of productivity growth and informative for policymakers. This paper estimated transient and persistent inefficiencies distinguished from farm-heterogeneity and endogeneity for Ethiopian grain crop-producing farmers for the period of 2004 – 2015. The study used Mundlak-adjusted random effect – four error component stochastic frontier model by extending earlier version of the model to distinguish endogeneity and farm-heterogeneity from time-invariant inefficiency and to explain inefficiencies. The adjusted model was then estimated using multi-step estimation. The mean estimates of persistent, transient and overall efficiencies were 79, 73 and 58%, respectively. Result from inefficiency effect model revealed sex, family-size, number of plots, owing-oxen, soil-fertility and rainfall influenced transient inefficiency negatively; while, age, education, and temperature variation had positive effect. Persistent inefficiency was influenced negatively by owing-oxen, soil-fertility, farm-size, population pressure, rainfall, and market proximity; whereas, age and education affected it positively. Generally, the overall technical efficiency is low, mainly due to the transient part. In conclusion, the findings are vital to initiate government policy options to reduce inefficiency, focusing on factors affecting the long-run and short-run inefficiencies distinctly. The low level of efficiency can be addressed by facilitating farmers’ access to more arable-land and modern farming tools and machinery, creating targeted support programs for female farmers, improving technologies that promote soil-fertility and reduce weather adverse effects in central highlands of Ethiopia.

Comprehensive Overview of the Recent Advancements in Self-Healing Asphalt Utilizing Nano-Technology

Wondimagegne Mamo Mengistu — 2025-01-05

Because of factors like age, wear and tear, and elements such as rain, sunlight and chemicals that come into contact with the pavement surface, traditional asphalt materials are vulnerable to degradation. To overcome this, nanotechnology is used, preferred by its self-healing mechanisms that can patch cracks and preserve the structural integrity of the material. The main goal of this review is to give a thorough overview of the recent developments in nanotechnology-based self-healing asphalt. Recent articles, all of which are published in web of science indexed journals, are used. The utilization of nano-fillers, which can be incorporated into the asphalt matrix to improve its mechanical characteristics and self-healing capacity is highlighted in the review. When cracks appear, the large surface area and reactivity of these materials help to speed up the healing process. The review also addressed the function of encapsulated healing agents that are distributed throughout the asphalt binder, such as rejuvenators and rejuvenating microcapsules. These healing chemicals are released when a crack forms and work to fix the damage, essentially by restoring its integrity. In conclusion, self-healing asphalt that makes use of nanotechnology has shown to have a great deal of promise for durable and sustainable asphalt pavements. Incorporating nano-fillers with encapsulated healing agents has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in terms of enhancing the mechanical properties of the material and repairing cracks. To maximize the healing efficiency, to create standardized testing procedures, and to handle the practical difficulties in widely implementing self-healing asphalt, further studies are needed.

Navigating the Digital Landscape: Digital Innovation Readiness in Ethiopia's Financial Sector

Shibiru Ayalew Melesse — 2025-01-05

Digital innovation is critical for financial institutions seeking to remain competitive in today's fast-evolving technological landscape. However, firms in developing countries, like Ethiopia, face significant challenges in preparing for such innovations. This study assessed the readiness of financial institutions in Ethiopia for digital innovation and examined the impact it has on their effectiveness in implementing innovation. Primary data was collected from banks, insurance companies, and microfinance institutions, and analyzed using multiple regression and t-tests of equality between two means. The findings revealed that the overall readiness level of Ethiopian financial institutions is unsatisfactory, regardless of the type of financial institution. Additionally, managers generally perceive their organizations as more prepared for digital transformation than their employees do. These results highlight the need for Ethiopian financial institutions to address internal perception gaps and to improve readiness in underperforming areas to foster a unified approach to innovation. Moreover, policymakers are suggested to prioritize strengthening digital infrastructure, enacting supportive regulatory frameworks, and promoting financial sector digitalization through incentives.

Effect of Cathodic Voltage on Structural, Optical, and Surface Properties of Electrodeposition of CdZnTe Thin Film for Optoelectronic Applications

Ahmed Umer Yimamu — 2025-01-05

This study investigated the impacts of varying growth voltage on structural, optical, and surface characteristics of electrodeposited cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) thin films. The electrodeposition was performed using a potentiostatic mode with a cheap two-electrode electrodeposition method. The production of the thin films took place at deposition voltages of 1700, 1750, 1800, and 1850 mV. X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) were used to evaluate the features of CdZnTe thin films. The XRD analysis confirmed that polycrystalline cubic CdZnTe structures with (111) preferential orientation were detected. The maximum crystallite size, minimum dislocation density, number of crystallite sizes per unit area, and microstrain were recorded at 17500 mV growth voltage. The UV-Vis analysis revealed that the energy bandgap of CdZnTe thin films varied increased from 1.55 to 2.05 eV as the deposition voltage increased from 1700 to 1850 mV. Utilizing a cathodic voltage of 1750 mV, the highest average surface roughness measured was 52.15 nm. Thus, a deposition voltage of 1750 mV can be used as the optimized voltage for the growth of CdZnTe thin film, and it has potential applications for thin film-based solar cell devices.

Potential of Castor Seed (Ricinus communis) Powder-Formulated Feed in the Fertility Control of Wild-Caught Female African Giant Rats (Cricetomys gambianus)

Hafiz Ayinde Badmus — 2025-01-05

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Castor seed powder-formulated feed in the fertility control of wildly caught female African giant rats (AGR). The study was conducted at Central Animal House of University of Ibadan, Nigeria between February and April, 2022. Four different concentrations of experimental feeds were formulated by mixing castor seed powder with commercial rat feed in the ratio 1:12, 1:6, 1:1, 0:1 (control). Twenty wildly caught female AGR were randomly allocated into four groups (with 5 rats/group), acclimatized for 4 weeks and fed with appropriate experimental feed for 60 days with water provided as necessary. Blood samples were collected at 20 days intervals and analyzed for reproductive hormones (Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinising Hormone, Progesterone, and Estrogen) and cellular enzymes using standard methods. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA while means were separated using Tukey’s test. No significant difference was recorded in the mean feed intake (%) (1:1: 94.81 ± 0.77, control: 96.48 ± 0.43) and body weight (g) (1:1: 868.20 ± 75.12, control: 872.80 ± 48.09) among the groups. There was significantly reduced FSH (IU/L) (7.8 ± 0.7) compared to control (15.2 ± 1.0). Progesterone and estrogen (IU/L) were significantly lower (1.2 ± 0.2; 18.8 ± 1.9) than the control (4.1 ± 0.1; 33.8 ± 1.4). The Castor seed powder has the potential of reducing the reproductive ability of the female African giant rats and therefore can be recommended to the farmers for use.

Drought Vulnerability Characterization and Nature-Based Adaptation, Eerer Sub-Basin, Eastern Ethiopia

Asfaw Kebede Kassa — 2025-01-06

Over the past two decades, Ethiopia experienced recurrent and severe droughts, significantly impacting its environment, the livelihoods of its citizens, and the structure of its societal norms. To address these challenges, communities have increasingly turns to ecosystems as a natural buffer against the effects of climate change, particularly drought. The aim of this study was to analyze and to characterize drought-prone areas. The study highlighted the critical role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in climate change mitigation. Moreover, it proposed a long-term strategy to integrating NbS into disaster risk reduction plans by leveraging multi-sensor satellite data and other sources. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) were employed to evaluate drought vulnerability in the study area. The key variables considered for the study were elevation, slope, aspect, land uses and land cover, population density, normalized difference vegetation index, land surface temperature, normalized difference moisture index, vegetation condition index, vegetation health index, and soil moisture index. These metrics collectively provided a comprehensive assessment of drought conditions in the region. The findings revealed varying levels of drought severity: approximately 30.5 % of the study area is classified as experiencing medium drought, 19.1 % faces high drought, and 20 % shows no drought conditions. The results underscore the urgent need for a cohesive strategy to mitigate drought risks, focusing on climate adaptation and sustainable land management through NbS. This approach is vital for enhancing resilience and ensuring long-term sustainability in vulnerable regions.

Water Quality Suitability and Sanitary Inspection of Hand-Dug Wells of Merawi Town, Ethiopia

Selamawit Tadele — 2025-01-09

In small towns of developing countries, because of unreliable piped water supply, households utilize water from private shallow wells, which can be easily contaminated. In this study, water quality suitability of hand-dug wells, which are the main alternative to the utility water provision in Merawi Town, and the risk of the sources to contamination were assessed. Samples from 14 wells were analyzed for 12 selected water quality parameters, and the overall water quality was judged using Weight Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI). Besides, sanitation practices of the town residents were evaluated through questionnaires administered to 386 householders and sanitary inspections of the sources were conducted using the World Health Organization form. Based on the results, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride, nitrate, and magnesium were within the acceptable limit of drinking. However, all the water samples were bacteriologically contaminated. According to the WAWQI, only 14.29% of the samples waters were good for domestic use in both wet and dry seasons. From the sanitary inspection, 71.43% of the wells were at either high or very high risk of contamination; however, from the responses to the questionnaire, 57.3% of households do not treat the alternative sources. To overcome the bacteriological contamination and thus, the outbreak of diseases, short-term intervention, such as ensuring disinfection is compulsory. To achieve, the missing access to potable water, the utility needs to develop long-term goals. Generally, water quality analysis and sanitary inspection are complementary tools, which play the important purposes of ensuring water safety.