. Cross sectional data collected in 2015/16 production year from 147 surveyed households was utilized in achieving these objectives. Non-parametric net crop revenue analysis and Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier approach were used to analyze enterprise profitability and to estimate the technical efficiency levels in potato production, respectively. The result of net crop revenue analysis indicated that potato production was profitable wherein the producers had earned net return of about 11,740.9 ETB (Ethiopian Birr). Further analysis of the gross and net income data showed wide variation of the results between harvesting seasons and off-peak season. The test result of Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier indicated that the relative deviation from the frontier due to inefficiency was 94%. The mean technical efficiency of farmers in the production of potato was 0.89. The estimated stochastic production frontier model indicated that area of the plots, amounts of NPS fertilizers, amount of seed and labor in man-days were positive and significant determinants of production level. The estimated SPF model together with the inefficiency parameters showed that age, age square, education, land ownership status, extension contact, number of plots (fragmentation), household size and livestock significantly determined efficiency level of farmers in potato production in the study area. To this end, the attention of policy makers to improve agricultural production should not revolve solely around the introduction and dissemination of new technology to increase yield, but also more attention should be given to improve the existing level of efficiency.

Background: Community based health insurance is accepted as a capable tool of health system improvement and improves the health status of enrollees. Its mechanisms look for to protect low-income households from health related risks through mutual risk sharing at the community level. Even though Government’s efforts, the Community based health insurance enrolment rate remained low. Objective: To assess the community based health insurance enrollment and associated factors in Sidama Region, Ethiopia.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Sidama Region, 2020 using a pretested structured questionnaire. The study was conducted in randomly selected 770 households. The data entry was made by using Epi-info 2007 software. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression statistical model was used to compute odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval to test the associations between dependent and independent variables. Then variables found to have P<0.25 in the bi-variable analysis taken as candidate for multivariable analysis. A P-value of 0.05 with a confidence interval of 95% was used to declare level of statistical significance. Result: Among 770 sampled households, 762 were interviewed and the response rate was 98.9%. About 20.2% of the respondents were enrolled in the scheme. Covariates such as፡ ages 31-59 years(AOR :2.62, 95% CI :1.48-4.66)and >=60 years(AOR : 2.87, 95% CI :1.23-6.74), households who had no formal education(AOR:1.66, 95% CI:1.02-2.72),affordability of premium (AOR:0.28, 95% CI: 0.15-0.54), knowledge on CBHI(AOR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.21, 10.27) and perceived quality(AOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.25-0.87) had statistically significant association with community based health insurance enrollment.Conclusion: The prevalence of community based health insurance enrollment was low. This study identified the need to create knowledge and bring behavioral change in the community on the scheme in general. This study also revealed that regular contribution issue needs improvement based on affordability of households and building their trust on the program and efforts should be devoted to enhance quality of healthcare services to increase the enrollment.

This study investigated factors determining microfinance loan utilization by smallholder farmers from Omo Microfinance institution in Lemo District of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data were used and a total of 118 sampled farmers were considered for the interview. Both descriptive statistics and independent double-hurdle model were used to analyze the microfinance loan utilization and loan amount received. The results showed that literacy status, household size, size of landholding, perception about loan repayment period and distance from residence to lending center were the significant determinants of microfinance loan utilization by smallholder farmers. The borrower's sex, literacy status, income level, saving level, purpose of loan taking and perception about loan repayment period were found to be the factors influencing loan amount received by smallholder farmers in the study area. The findings generally suggest the need to enhance appropriate actions on determining factors of microfinance loan utilization and its loan amount in order to lessen financial constraints of smallholder farmers through microcredit.