Recently, forest land grant for investment which is often misquoted as bare land is posing a challenge to biodiversity conservation efforts in the Majang Zone of Gambella Region, Ethiopia. On the other hand, Majang zone has always been known for dense forest cover and rich biodiversity; but recently threatened due to plantation investment. In order to tackle such prevailing problems, timely information about past and existing land-use/cover scenarios is needed. This study therefore aim to drive reliable information about land-use/cover trends for the last 30 years using Remote Sensing techniques. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) for year 1987 and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) for year 2016 were used for image classification. By applying all the approaches and algorithms recommended for image classification, six major land-use/cover classes were identified. The landscape ever covered with dense forest was dramatically updated to new land-use/cover. The 1987 land-use/cover map put forest as the major land cover accounted for 86.73%. However, findings from recent satellite image uncovered new land-use/cover class-plantation accounted for16.16 % that comes out of almost none existent land use pattern in 1987. The result also showed that agricultural land and settlement expanded at alarming rate (3.4 and 0.13 hectare) per year respectively but, the forest cover is the most altered part decreasing by 0.32 hectare per year. Thus, it is important to take urgent action against further conversion of forest to other land cover class, which might have negative impacts in advance on the remaining natural forest.
In Ethiopia, potato sub-sector is expanding, with more value added products, such as potato chips, mainly due to increasing demands associated with growth of population and urbanization. Processing industry is very dependent on the quality parameters of tuber to satisfy the increasing demand of customers. Thus, this experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the quality of some improved potato varieties at Shebench district of Bench-Maji Zone. The study comprised of nine improved potato varieties laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The tuber size distribution and proximate quality data were collected and analyzed by using SAS Version 9.2 statistical software. The results of the study revealed that all of the variables considered were significantly (P<0.01) affected by varieties except pH. Accordingly, considering tuber size distribution, the highest percentage of medium tuber was observed for Gudanie (77.4) followed by Belete (72.18). Whereas the highest percentage of large tuber was observed for variety Belete (17.35) followed by Shenkola (14.03). On the other hand, the least percentage of small tuber size was observed for variety Belete (10.47) followed by Gudanie (13.59). With regard to physicochemical qualities, the highest value of dry mater content (21.67%), specific gravity (1.08) and starch content (14.69%) were observed for Gudanie variety whereas Degemegn (3.28%) and Gudanie (3.27%) varieties showed the highest protein contents. Therefore, considering majority of the tested marketable and processing quality attributes, variety Gudanie can be considered as superior and recommended for the study area. In addition to this, growers in the study area can also use variety Belete for its good marketable tubers and varieties Gera, Gorebela and Chala for their acceptable processing quality.
This research was initiated following the outbreak of Aulacaspis tubercularis in bench Maji zone with the objective to assess information about occurrence and extent of pest infestation and distribution. Informal survey was conducted first to have a better insight and identify the major pest infested areas. Accordingly, three infested Kebeles namely, Otowa chole, Kuja and Berji in Guraferda woreda were purposefully selected. Among the three districts; only the farmers in Otowa Chole were interviewed about the case. A total of 45 respondents were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. For rating infestation level over season five mango trees were randomly selected and marked in the each Kebele. Ten leaves were randomly picked from each tree for counting the clusters of white scales formed on leaves using magnifying lens. The data collected on periodic field inspection and farmers interview were subjected to statistical analysis using SAS and SPSS software, respectively. The survey result indicated that the newly emerged pest was spread from its original infestation area to some mango growing neighboring districts and caused a significant yield reduction in mango plant. The survey also indicated that no significant control method was practiced by the farmers. Rate of infestation was influenced by interaction effect of Kebele and season. Status of pest infestation in each kebele over season showed that rate of pest infestation varied from moderate to severe. However, both the magnitude and pattern of pest infestations were not the same at all Kebeles and season. Due to poor quarantine system in the country the pest is aggressively invading the major mango producing areas of the Zone. Thus, identification of effective bio-control agents that is environmentally safe and cost effective method is highly recommended as sustainable solution to save the whole mango loss from the country.
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