Effect of Inventory Management Activities on Retailers’ Satisfaction in Inyange Industries Limited in Gasabo District, Rwanda

This research examined the effect of inventory management activities on retailer satisfaction in manufacturing industries in Rwanda from the year of 2016 to 2021. The mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative data were used as research design to collect results from 121 respondents from 174 who were expected as sample size of the study by the use of simple random and stratified sampling techniques. Before, the actual process of data collection the researcher pre-tested the questionnaire survey and the key informant interview, which were used later for collecting data from the field. Thus, the quantitative data were analyzed using both descriptive as percentage distribution and inferential statistics represented by multiple linear regressions. Thus, the regression coefficients demonstrated that ?1 =.241, with p=0.002 < 0.05 at sig. level of 5% which proves that IOP had a statistically positive and significant effect on the satisfaction of retailers; ?2 = .311 with p=0.001 < 0.05 at a sig. level of 5% implying that ISM had a positive and statistical significant effect on satisfaction of retailers; and ?1 = .402 with p= 0.000 < 0.05 at a sig. level of 5% implying that IDM had demonstrated a positive and statistical significant effect on retailers’ satisfaction in IIL between 2016 and 2021. The respective coefficients further indicate that 24.1 %, 31.1% and 40.2% of the variability in retailers’ satisfaction can be attributed to inventory order processing, inventory storage management and inventory distribution management respectively. The research recommends IIL to adopt JIT inventory practices all the time to avoid inventory costs while retailers need to accurately forecast demand and make orders before they experience stock-outs which affects the supply chain. It is hoped that this study will encourage IIL to sustainably adopt inventory management activities that will continue to sustain their retailer satisfaction. The study may also motivate other researchers to conduct research covering the whole country in order to improve its reliability. Keywords: Inventory Management Activities, Retailer Satisfaction, Manufacturing Industries, Rwanda

Effect of Inventory Management Activities on Retailers’ Satisfaction in Inyange Industries Limited in Gasabo District, Rwanda

This research examined the effect of inventory management activities on retailer satisfaction in manufacturing industries in Rwanda from the year of 2016 to 2021. The mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative data were used as research design to collect results from 121 respondents from 174 who were expected as sample size of the study by the use of simple random and stratified sampling techniques. Before, the actual process of data collection the researcher pre-tested the questionnaire survey and the key informant interview, which were used later for collecting data from the field. Thus, the quantitative data were analyzed using both descriptive as percentage distribution and inferential statistics represented by multiple linear regressions. Thus, the regression coefficients demonstrated that ?1 =.241, with p=0.002 < 0.05 at sig. level of 5% which proves that IOP had a statistically positive and significant effect on the satisfaction of retailers; ?2 = .311 with p=0.001 < 0.05 at a sig. level of 5% implying that ISM had a positive and statistical significant effect on satisfaction of retailers; and ?1 = .402 with p= 0.000 < 0.05 at a sig. level of 5% implying that IDM had demonstrated a positive and statistical significant effect on retailers’ satisfaction in IIL between 2016 and 2021. The respective coefficients further indicate that 24.1 %, 31.1% and 40.2% of the variability in retailers’ satisfaction can be attributed to inventory order processing, inventory storage management and inventory distribution management respectively. The research recommends IIL to adopt JIT inventory practices all the time to avoid inventory costs while retailers need to accurately forecast demand and make orders before they experience stock-outs which affects the supply chain. It is hoped that this study will encourage IIL to sustainably adopt inventory management activities that will continue to sustain their retailer satisfaction. The study may also motivate other researchers to conduct research covering the whole country in order to improve its reliability. Keywords: Inventory Management Activities, Retailer Satisfaction, Manufacturing Industries, Rwanda

Market chain analysis of goat in south omo zone of SNNPR, Ethiopia

This study was initiated to identify market chain actors and their function in the market, investigate the structure conduct and performance of goat marketing in south omo zones of SNNPR, Ethiopia during the year 2018. Primary data were collected from sampled pastoralists and agro pastoralists, traders and brokers. Before the household survey, key informant interview and focus group discussions were conducted with producers, traders and brokers. Descriptive Statistics and qualitative data analysis techniques were employed to analyze the goat market structure, conduct and performance. The results show that producers, brokers, traders and consumers were the major goat market actors. Regarding the market structure, cattle market is known to be dominated by few traders. Although the degree of competition varies, goat market structure in the study area has an oligopolistic nature. This shows that only few traders have the majority of market share and earn abnormal profit. Besides, goat market is characterized by entry barriers, distant market point, high trucking cost, seasonality of marketing, information asymmetries and unfriendly relation between actors. As the pastoralists and agro pastoralists mainly depend on goat for their livelihoods and other cultural values, traders take advantage of the asymmetric market information towards them. The larger share of the market gains remains with end traders thereby limiting the pastoralists and agro pastoralists chance to realize the economic gains in goat production. Thus, linking producers to market and its benefits, establishing cooperatives and development of infrastructure could play a significant role for optimization of the sector. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 52-60, Dec 2021

Rural Livelihoods at Risk: A Case of Devghat Gaunpalika in the Western Hills, Nepal

People's livelihood determines by a variety of factors- availability of assets, opportunities, and restrictions created by the environment, and people's evaluation of these factors. The present paper aims to analyze adversities of rural livelihoods focusing on the case of Devghat Gaunpalika of Tanahun district, Nepal. This article is based on primary data/information acquired from a field survey conducted during December 2017 through group discussion, key informant interview, and field observation. People in the Devghat area perform farm and off-farm activities to eke out wide shorts of their livelihood needs. However, livelihood in this area is at risk owing to combination of adversities such as food insufficiency, shortage of facilities and services, low level of educational attainment, lower household income, and others. Three-fourth of the households adopted agriculture as their main occupation to fulfil their household needs. Household income is low. About of 62 percent households earn below NRs 5000 per month. Twenty-five percent of the population earns their livelihood by working as wage-based labors. A low level of educational attainment and poor coping capacity also indicate local livelihoods at risk.

Examining the Values Allocated to the Natural Environment: Non-human beings in focus: The Case of Some Selected Districts in East Gojjam Zone

Value is a worth given to something either for its consequential utility for the valuers or a worth given for its own sake. While the former way of evaluation is called extrinsic value, the latter is called intrinsic value. Any kind of approach we adapt to anything emerges from a kind of value we allocate to the thing in question, i.e., kind of value people attribute to the natural environment in general and to non-human, in particular, determine people's treatment, evaluation, action and attitude toward the being in focus. Supposing that the ever-increasing environmental crisis is anthropogenic, this paper is trying to examine the kind of value allocated to the environment and non-human beings in East Gojjam. A qualitative approach and case study design were employed to achieve the objective. Both Primary and secondary dated dates were collected. To collect data, focus group discussion, semi-structured interview, key informant interview, and document review were employed as data collecting instruments. Hence, the participants: officials and exports from the office of wildlife protection, office of natural resource management as well as the office of forest enterprise, local people and religious leaders were purposively selected, and the sample size was determined by data saturation. Finally, the collected data was analyzed thematically. The research found out that the kind of value ascribed to environments is extrinsic. Treating animals and plants as the mere means for the manifold end of human being paves the way for human beings to have untrammeled intervention in the environment.

An assessment of the Human-Elephant conflict in Sapahi and Kakadi Village of Kolhabi Municipality, Bara, Nepal

This study aims to assess the trend, extent, and impact of Human-Elephant conflict (HEC) in Sapahi and Kakadi villages of Bara district. Direct field observation, Household Survey (HHs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informant Interview (KII) were carried out during November and December 2016 where 11 wards were selected purposively from two village and 50 households from each village. Also, 12 KII and one FGDs from each ward were performed. SPSS 20.0, and MS Excel 2016 were used to calculate mean, percentage, frequency count, and chi-square test was used to determine the variation in people’s perception towards wild Elephant conservation. The total average damage of paddy per year per HHs was 834.1 kg followed by wheat 153.7 kg, and mustard 2.12 kg. The economic value of average annual crop damage per year per HHs accounted for NRs. 22669.70. Among total HHs, 84% of the respondents said that the trend of crop damage is increasing, 10% found no differences in crop damage, and remaining 6% said decreasing. During the last 5 years, 7 people were injured, and 6 were killed. The lighting fire, beating drum, and making noise were the local techniques used by all the respondents to chase away elephant for the mitigation of HEC. The farmers also guard their fields at night time. 60% of the respondents are positive towards elephant conservation and remaining 40% seems no significance for conservation. The compensation scheme for crop damage should be properly implemented in the study area to minimize the HEC. A sustained conservation education program especially focusing on female, farmers, and nomads are recommended to conserve wild elephants, and their habitat.

Paint A Portrait: Lived Experience of Parents in the Implementation of Modular Distance Learning

This study determined the issues and challenges encountered by the parents who facilitated learning at home. This research was a Qualitative-Phenomenological study that utilized the Narrative Form using the responses of the parent-participants in the Key Informant Interview conducted by the researcher. Creswell Method applied in qualitative analysis of these reactions to explore the lived experience of parents who served as Learning Facilitators in Modular Distance Learning. From the responses of the participants in the Key Informant Interview conducted, the researcher was able to extract the following themes that describe their overall ability in painting the portrait of their children: FB: Keeping You Informed, Education Must Continue, Education Cannot Wait, MDL Finds a Way, Painting a Portrait as Consecrated Responsibility, Race Against Time, and Time Works Wonders. The researcher was able to draw out issues with implications of the findings on the lived experiences of the parents in painting the portrait of their children as not just a simple task. Their ability to paint the picture and helping their children with their studies were perceived as challenging but added colors in making their future even more meaningful. Keywords: Paint a Portrait, Modular Distance Learning, Learning Facilitator

THE SUPPORT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN THE BUILSA NORTH DISTRICT OF GHANA

This study explored the role NGOs’ play in educating children with disabilities in the Builsa North District of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey approach was applied in the study. The sample size was 150 respondents (75 male and 75 female) for the questionnaire. A mixed method approach involving questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were the main instruments used for data collection. The data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The questionnaire was answered by 150 respondents, 72 respondents answered the focus group questions while eight (8) respondents answered the key informant interview questions. The schools, parents/guardians of children with disabilities, foster homes and NGOs that support the education of children with disabilities were visited for the questionnaire administration. The study realized children with disabilities face discrimination and marginalization in accessing education in the district. Thus, some NGOs support the education of children with disabilities by recruiting and sending them to school as well as providing teaching and learning materials, feeding the disabled children, capacity building as well as caring and showing love for the disabled children. The challenges militating against children with disabilities in their bid to access education were: lack of special educational infrastructure; stigmatization by school mates, teachers and parents; and their inability to move from home to school and back. The study concludes that children with disabilities have the desire to be educated. The study recommends the provision of a disabled children school in the district. Government should formulate legislations against stigmatization and discrimination of disabled children.

Major Constraints for Regional Hegemony: Nigeria and South Africa in Perspective

The quest for a complementary regional hegemonic dispensation has been an enduring component in Africa. While studies have recognised the increase in power assets of some states within the continent, literature is replete with the idea that no state can equal or defeat Nigeria and South Africa in contesting for regional powers. Though, this impression appears plausible. However, there are limited scholarly contributions to the devastating conditions that undermined the regional powers’ influential position to enhance legitimacy and positive image-making for African rebirth in global politics. It is against this backdrop that the current effort examines the constraints that hinder the credibility and attractive assets of the two regional powers in African policy. Relying on key-informant interview and secondary sources for the collection of data and the interpretive qualitative method for data analysis, the findings reveal that domestic limitations are major impediments to regional hegemonic powers’ dispensation. This article argues that possession of remarkable material capabilities without corresponding legitimacy and diplomatic means of ‘appealing’ to other states is not enough in the pursuit of hegemonic status. It, therefore, concludes that Nigeria and South Africa must tackle the domestic crises that consistently decline the credibility and continental leadership to curb the global inequality against Africa.

Fishing Crafts and Gears in Buug, Dumanquillas Bay, Philippines

Dumanquillas Bay is a body of saltwater and the major source of food located in the Southern Mindanao. It has been observed that marine resources and fish catch in the area are declining. This study assumed that fishing practices affect the decline of marine and fish catch in the bay. A study on the documentation of fishing practices in the area is reported here. Key informant interview (KII), focus group discussion, direct observation and document archival were used. Twenty-three (23) fishing practices were observed in the area. Based on R.A. 10654 or the Philippine Fisheries Code, five (5) fishing practices were identified in the bay which are illegal. These are “pahulbot sa lalum”, “pahulbot sa mabaw”, “panubli”, “panguryente” and “troll” that destroys sea grasses, coral reefs and the sea beds. The illegal fishing practices identified poses a threat to the marine resources. It implies weak implementation of fishing policies among the LGU’s and other concerned government institutions and NGA’s. Capacity building, CEPA campaign and committed implementation of the Philippine Fisheries Code (R.A. 10654) should be implemented by the PAMB and stakeholders in the community to manage the remaining coastal marine resources thereby uplifting the socio-economic status of the coastal community and achieve sustainability.