scholarly journals Determinants of Farmers’ Level of Interaction with Agricultural Extension Agencies in Northwest Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3447
Author(s):  
Yemane Asmelash Gebremariam ◽  
Joost Dessein ◽  
Beneberu Assefa Wondimagegnhu ◽  
Mark Breusers ◽  
Lutgart Lenaerts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Probit Model ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Service Programs ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
Extension Agencies

This research identifies critical determinants for interactions between farmers and extension agencies. Cross-sectional farm household-level data from three hundred household heads were collected between September 2019 and March 2020 and triangulated with data from workshops with farmers and extension agents. The data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance and the ordered probit model. Farmers’ socio-economic characteristics significantly affect their degree of interaction with extension agencies. Recognition of the determinants of the level of farmers’ interactions can inform policymakers about how to formulate and improve the effectiveness of extension programs, enhance information and knowledge dissemination and facilitate development in collaboration with local communities by focusing on a better interaction between farmers and extension agencies. The level of a farmer’s interactions is based on a systematic decision-making process. Although personal and demographic characteristics are important, farmers’ interaction levels require conducive institutional and household assets, groups/social capital and access to extension agents’ contexts. These contexts will differ by household, country and region. Therefore, extension agencies should create and design contextually appropriate strategies for substantial interactions with farmers for the dissemination of farm information. This research is original and valuable in identifying the factors associated with the level of farmers’ interactions with extension agencies in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. It also provides a new pathway for operationalizing farmer-oriented agricultural extension policies and strategies and to help agricultural policymakers formulate extension service programs.

scholarly journals Availability of Adequately Iodized Salt at Household Level and Associated Factors in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailay Gebrearegawi Gebremariam ◽  
Melkie Edris Yesuf ◽  
Digsu Negese Koye
Keyword(s):  
Associated Factors ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Iodized Salt ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Gondar Town ◽  
Multistage Sampling ◽  
And Control

Background. Iodine deficiency has serious effects on body growth and mental development. This study assessed availability of adequately iodized salt at household level and associated factors in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia. Methods. Community based cross-sectional study was carried out among households in Gondar town during August 15–25, 2012. Multistage sampling technique was used. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire by a face-to-face interview technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to check associations and control confounding. Results. A total of 810 participants were participated. The availability of adequately iodized salt (≥15 parts per million) in the study area was 28.9%. Multivariate analysis showed that using packed salt (AOR (95% CI) = 9.75 (5.74, 16.56)), not exposing salt to sunlight (AOR (95% CI) = 7.26 (3.73, 14.11)), shorter storage of salt at household (AOR (95% CI) = 3.604 (1.402, 9.267)) and good knowledge of participants about iodized salt (AOR (95% CI) = 1.94 (1.23, 3.05)) were associated with availability of adequately iodized salt at household level. Conclusions. Availability of adequately iodized salt at household level was very low. Hence, households should be sensitized about importance of iodized salt and its proper handling at the household level.

scholarly journals Representativeness of individual-level data in COVID-19 phone surveys: Findings from Sub-Saharan Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0258877
Author(s):  
Joshua Brubaker ◽  
Talip Kilic ◽  
Philip Wollburg
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sampling Weights ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Phone Survey ◽  
General Adult Population ◽  
Household Heads

The COVID-19 pandemic has created urgent demand for timely data, leading to a surge in mobile phone surveys for tracking the impacts of and responses to the pandemic. Using data from national phone surveys implemented in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda during the pandemic and the pre-COVID-19 national face-to-face surveys that served as the sampling frames for the phone surveys, this paper documents selection the biases in individual-level analyses based on phone survey data. In most cases, individual-level data are available only for phone survey respondents, who we find are more likely to be household heads or their spouses and non-farm enterprise owners, and on average, are older and better educated vis-a-vis the general adult population. These differences are the result of uneven access to mobile phones in the population and the way that phone survey respondents are selected. To improve the representativeness of individual-level analysis using phone survey data, we recalibrate the phone survey sampling weights based on propensity score adjustments that are derived from a model of an individual’s likelihood of being interviewed as a function of individual- and household-level attributes. We find that reweighting improves the representativeness of the estimates for phone survey respondents, moving them closer to those of the general adult population. This holds for both women and men and for a range of demographic, education, and labor market outcomes. However, reweighting increases the variance of the estimates and, in most cases, fails to overcome selection biases. This indicates limitations to deriving representative individual-level estimates from phone survey data. Obtaining reliable data on men and women through future phone surveys will require random selection of adult interviewees within sampled households.

scholarly journals Knowledge and Utilization of Iodized Salt and Its Associated Factors at Household Level in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Walleligne Beyene Tariku ◽  
Amare Lisanu Mazengia
Keyword(s):  
Associated Factors ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Iodized Salt ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Test Kit

Background. Iodine is one of the essential elements that enables the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones, which is vital for growth and development of the brain and central nervous system. More than two billion individuals worldwide live in iodine-deficient areas. Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and utilization of iodized salt at the household level and associated factors in the Mecha district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 10 to April 10, 2018. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire by a face-to-face interview technique. The use of iodized salt at the household level was tested with the iodine rapid test kit. Data were checked, coded, and entered to EPi Info version 3.5.1 and were exported to SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 20 for analysis. Result. A total of 700 head of households were included in the study, of which 639 (91.3%) were females. The overall prevalence of knowledge was 201 (28.7%). Availability of adequately iodized salt was 443 (63.3%). The proportion of proper utilization of adequately iodized salt at the household level was 180 (25.7%). Occupational status, educational status, and residence were predictors of knowledge on the use of iodized salt. Educational status, packaging, and knowledge of respondents on iodized salt were significant to utilization. Conclusion and Recommendation. Knowledge, availability, and utilization of adequately iodized salt remain very low in the district. Concerned body should improve awareness and availability of adequately iodized salt and how to utilize it properly.

scholarly journals PERAN PENYULUH PERTANIAN DALAM PENGGUNAAN PUPUK ORGANIK DI PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Andi Suci Anita ◽  
Purna Kusumayana
Keyword(s):  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Median Score ◽  
Change Behavior ◽  
Extension Agencies

Information dissemination through agricultural extension workers can increase knowledge, can change behavior, and attitudes of farmers, especially regarding the use of organic fertilizers. Changes in behavior and attitudes can be seen from the participation of farmers in using organic fertilizers. Participation through the participation of farmers can be a more efficient way to achieve the stated goals. The aim of this study was to examine the role of agricultural extension agents in the use of organic fertilizers in the Province of South Kalimantan. Measurement of the role of agricultural extension agents in the use of organic fertilizer using the median score. The role of agricultural extension agents in the use of organic fertilizers includes: the role of agricultural extension agents as motivators, mediators and supervisors. The role of agricultural extension agents as motivators in the use of organic fertilizers gets a median score of 4, which means that agricultural instructors are eager to encourage farmers to use organic fertilizers due to a fairly good farmer response so that extension workers can motivate farmers to use organic fertilizer. The role of agricultural extension agents as mediators in the use of organic fertilizers gets a median score of 4, meaning that the tasks of agricultural extension agents as mediators have been carried out well. Information or policies from related government or extension agencies are delivered by extension agents to farmers, both through regular meetings and incidental meetings. While the role of agricultural extension agents as supervisors in the use of organic fertilizers has a median score of 5 which means that the role of agricultural extension agents has been carried out to the maximum seen from the frequency of implementation of guidance by extension agents.

scholarly journals Having a latrine facility is not a guarantee for eliminating open defecation owing to socio-demographic and environmental factors: The case of Machakel district in Ethiopia

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257813
Author(s):  
Abathun Temesgen ◽  
Mesafint Molla Adane ◽  
Amsalu Birara ◽  
Tebkew Shibabaw
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
P Value ◽  
Open Defecation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Determinant Factors ◽  
The Government ◽  
Household Heads

Background Open defecation practice problem is rampant in most rural areas of developing countries, including Ethiopia. To combat this problem, the Ethiopian government implemented different sanitation interventions including Community-Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH). The CLTSH approach is mainly aimed to eradicate open defecation practice through mobilizing the community to construct a latrine facility and utilize it. Although this intervention has significantly improved households’ access to a latrine facility, its impact on bringing behavioral change such as avoiding open defecation is not well studied. Objective Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of open defecation among households having their latrine and its determinant factors in rural settings in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Machakal district from September 1 to 30, 2019. A total of 472 household heads who had a latrine facility and systematically selected from six rural Kebeles of the district, were involved in the study. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist tools through face-to-face interviews and observation methods. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were run to identify the factors that influence open defecation practice. During the multivariable analysis, statistical significance was declared at the p-value of <0.05 with 95% CI. Results The prevalence of open defecation practice among household heads who had latrine facility was 27.8% (95% CI, [23.1–32.8]). Female gender (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI [1.13–7.68]), not attending of formal education (AOR = 3.10, CI 95% [1.34–7.13]), having >5 family members (AOR = 1.72, CI 95% [1.05–2.80]), presence of under-five child (AOR = 3.64 CI 95% [2.14–6.21]), preferring leaf as anal cleaning material (AOR = 3.18, CI 95% [1.67–6.08]), having unclean latrine (AOR = 2.15, CI 95% [1.34–3.44]), and having latrine that needs maintenance (AOR = 2.50 CI 95% [1.52–4.11]) variables were associated with open defecation practice. Conclusions Among the total respondents, finding more than a quarter of open defecators is concerning for a district that achieved greatly in terms of latrine coverage. This indicates the above-mentioned factors contributed to influence household heads to defecate openly despite having latrines. Therefore, the government and partners need to focus on designing strategies that effectively address determinant factors of open defecation.

How effective are coping mechanisms in securing livelihoods against climatic aberrations?

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Unmesh Patnaik ◽  
K Narayanan
Keyword(s):  
Household Head ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Consumption Behaviour ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Poor Households ◽  
Level Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the consumption behaviour and effectiveness of coping mechanisms adopted by households living in disaster-prone regions of rural India to cope with climatic aberrations and extremes using household-level data. In developing countries like India, poor households living in rural regions face risks to their livelihood due to climatic aberrations like deficient monsoon spells and rainfall gaps. Although these risks are covariate, the impact depends on location and the relative capacity of the people to cope with them. Design/methodology/approach – Using household-level data, this paper attempts to examine the consumption behaviour and effectiveness of coping mechanisms adopted by households living in these areas to hedge against the risks. A tobit and a multivariate probit model is used in the process. Findings – Based on the empirical analysis, and subject to the assumptions and the usual limitations of data, the findings suggest that households resort to consumption smoothening by liquidating their assets or decreasing consumption. Originality/value – They adopt a wide variety of ex-post risk-coping measures with limited success to overcome the shocks to their livelihood. Household-specific characteristics like age and education level of the household head are important in the choice of a particular coping option along with other key variables.

Communities’ awareness on environmental and social impacts of stone quarrying and its associated factors in Farta Woreda, Northwest, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2837-2846
Author(s):  
Mulugeta Asmamaw Mebratu ◽  
Mulugeta Birhan Nurie ◽  
Kinde Gebeyehu Reta ◽  
Tigabu Desie Emiru
Keyword(s):  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Social Impacts ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Observation Methods ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
The Impact

Stone quarrying has a considerable impact on land, water, air, natural resources, and social welfare. The objective of this study was to assess communities’ awareness of the environmental and social impacts of stone quarrying in Farta woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. The study used a cross-sectional research design. The 359 sample respondents were randomly selected. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using household surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and field observation methods. A binary logistic regression model was done to identify the independent variables of communities unaware of the impacts of stone quarrying. 62.7% and 57.38% of the surveyed households had aware of the impacts of stone quarrying social and environmental, respectively. Age of households heads from 31 - 40 (AOR = 1.272, 95% CI = (0.598-2.708), from 41 -50 age (AOR = 2.152, 95% CI = (0.947- 4.889), from 51- 65 age (AOR = 3.207, 95% CI = (1.405-7.321), Educational level of household heads, elementary school (1-8) (AOR = 2.985, 95% CI = (1.523-5.852), secondary school and above (AOR = 3.794, 95% CI = (1.841-7.820), Income of household heads from 10000 to 20000 birr (AOR = 2.254, 95% CI = (1.236 - 4.109), Income less than 1000 birr (AOR = 2.493, 95% CI = (1.419 - 4.380) were associated with unaware community on the impact of stone quarry. To solve present and future environmental and social problems, the study woreda Environmental Protection Offices should enhance communities’ awareness through awareness creation and environmental education program.

scholarly journals Insights into smallholder capacity for agricultural commercialisation: Evidence from four African contexts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrita Saha ◽  
Rachel Sabates-Wheeler ◽  
John Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Agricultural Economics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Development Literature ◽  
Lower Capacity

AbstractOver the last 15 years, the agricultural economics and development literature has amply highlighted success stories of smallholder farmers in developing countries, illustrating their increased engagement and integration with markets, in other words, higher rates of commercialisation. Yet, this seeming ‘success’ should not detract from the large proportion of farmers who, through engaging in high-value market chains, face high risks that often limit the extent of their engagement. This study, across four African contexts in Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, strives to better understand smallholder participation in agricultural commercialisation. Using new detailed cross-sectional household-level data, from the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) consortium, collected over 2017–2018, we analyse assets as a determining factor for localised patterns smallholder commercialisation. Applying asset-based thresholds, we capture commercialisation ‘capacity’—an indicator of the household’s commercialisation potential and ability to respond to risks. Despite the possibility to increase commercialisation as well as institutional arrangements that may reduce risk, such as contract farming, benefits from linkages with medium-scale farmers or returns from specific crop types, we find that households may yet be constrained by lower capacity. Hence, the need for targeted support for those at the margins and with limited assets; with the most pronounced and significant constraints for lower capacity households in study areas in Tanzania. These results can better inform development policies for agriculture where it is important to be able to specifically target households rather than a one size fits all approach.

Hasty Pudding Versus Tasty Bread: Regional Variations in Diet and Nutrition during the Industrial Revolution

2012 ◽  
pp. 9-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Horrell ◽  
Deborah Oxley
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Products ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Level Information ◽  
Local Supply ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Nutritional Score

Using parish-level information from Sir F.M. Eden's The state of the poor (1797) we can identify typical diets for the counties of England. These diets varied considerably and afforded very different standards of nutrition. We compute a nutritional score for this diet, paying attention to the presence of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients shown to be essential for health and growth in constructing this measure. Other information in the reports allows us to relate county-level nutrition to factors in the local economy. In particular we find nutrition was positively related to the availability of common land in the area and to women's remunerated work if conducted from home. Lack of common land and little local supply of dairy products also pushed households into buying white wheaten bread rather than baking their own wholemeal loaf. Replicating some of this analysis with household-level data confirms these results. Diet also maps onto stature: male convicts to Australia were significantly taller if they originated in a county with a more nutritious diet. This verifies the important impact of nutrition on stature and demonstrates the sensitivity of height as a measure of key aspects of welfare.

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