Background: Ethiopia has possibly the highest potential for potato production than any country in Africa. Postharvest loss (20-25%) is one of the major problems in the potato production. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objective of assessing postharvest losses along potato value chain actors and identifying its determinants in the study area. Results:The descriptive result indicated that the quantity of postharvest losses at producer, local trader, wholesaler and retailer level was 21.724, 1.838, 3.406 and 4.07 kg/qt, respectively. The average gross margin with loss of producers, local traders, wholesalers and retailers was 6464. 70, 282,169.89, 219,644.61 and 345,826.36 Birr, respectively, which is less than the average gross margin without loss (10,146.12, 284,015.83, 221,274.69 and 352,986.62 Birr, respectively). Distance to the nearest market, area allocated for potato and total output determine postharvest loss positively, and sex, experience, family size of working age, selling price and access to credit determine postharvest loss negatively. Conclusion:In the study area, lack of storage facilities for potato was raised by farmers and other actors as a priority problem. Intervention of government from input supply until the end consumers is paramount and preparing storage mechanism is a must.

This study was conducted to identify the challenges of crop production and marketing in southwest Ethiopia. Primary and secondary sources of data were used. Qualitative and Quantitative data types were collected from 385 respondents through interviews, focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and observations. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and econometric models. Crop productivity was analyzed by the Cobb Douglas model and its efficiency and determinants were identified by the stochastic frontier model. The major bottlenecks of crop production were the low attitude of farmers towards improved technology, low supply and usage of improved seed varieties (94.5%), low supply and use of fertilizers (95%), knowledge and skill gap of farmers (80.1%), poor extension service (57.3%), soil acidity (94.8%), diseases and insect pest (77.8%), conflict (84.9%) and the outbreak of human diseases (60%). Marketing challenges were poor infrastructure (87.3%), lack of market linkage (62.5%), and lack of credit services (70.6%). The Cobb Douglas model result revealed that land size, local seed, improved seed, repetition of weeding, and labor force influenced crop productivity. The mean level of crop technical efficiency was 51.3%. Education level, extension service, access to credit, cooperative membership, number of livestock owned, and soil fertility were influenced crop inefficiency negatively and distance to the farm was positively related to technical inefficiency. Improving extension services and skill of farmers through practical based training and building capacity of extension workers and systems to enhance the attitude of farmers towards technology usage and proper management practices, timely provision of farm inputs, improving road and market access, and provision of credit services to producers were some of the recommendations forwarded to alleviate crop production and marketing challenges in the study areas.

The primary aim of this study was to identify factors influencing natural honey production and marketing constraints in Kafa, Sheka, Bench- Sheko, and West Omo zones which covered 23 woredas and 69 kebeles. Primary and secondary sources of data were utilized for this study. Both qualitative and quantitative data types were employed. Data were collected from 94, 134, 118, and 39 respondents that were selected randomly from Bench- Sheko, Kaffa, Sheka, and West-Omo Zones respectively, based on probability proportional to the sample size. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and a multiple linear regression model. The dominant honey production practice in the study area was the use of traditional beehives. The productivity of traditional, transitional, and modern beehives was 9, 16, and 22 kg per hive. Major constraints that affect honey production include lack of modern technology (92.5%), absconding (69.5%), pests and predators (46.8%), lack of credit access (28.3%), poor extension service (57.4%), lack of beekeeping equipment's (45.2%) and death of colony (38.05). Similarly, poor market linkage (84.1%), lack of market information (66.2%), poor infrastructure (61.5%), low price of product (60.7%), weak bargaining power of farmers (37.5%), long-distance to market (88.4%), shortage of packing and storage materials (57.6%), presence of illegal traders (53.5%) and absence of branding (60.3%) are factors that influence honey marketing in the study area. The econometric result showed that variable cost, age of the respondent, marital status, experience, and hive number owned influence the level of honey production. The policy should focus on creating access to modern honey bee technologies, providing capacity building for producers, organizing cooperatives, providing credit services, promoting the involvement of private sectors, establishing linkages among honey producers, researchers, and private sectors.

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This study was examined effects of automated teller machine (ATM) service quality on client satisfaction within the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE). During this study, the convenience sampling technique was employed. The study used primary and secondary data sources. Both quantitative and qualitative data types were collected. Data were analyzed by using five-point Likert scale and Econometric methods. Multinomial and ordered logit model was used to analyze the effect of service quality of ATM service on client satisfaction. The mean Likert scale result indicated that the respondents' attitude towards tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy fall on 2.77, 2.98, 2.58, 3.02 & 3.23, respectively. The econometric result confirmed positive relationship between tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, empathy and assurance, and client satisfaction. Based on the finding of this study providing reliable network, educating customers on ATM usage, improving the security of ATM usage, increasing the number of ATMs, and increasing the amount of money withdrawn was recommended.