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.

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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on ATM usage, improving the security of ATM usage, increasing the number of ATMs, and increasing the amount of money withdrawn was recommended.

The study was undertaken with the objective of identifying potato value chain actors, assessing profitability of actors, marketing margin and extent of value addition in the study area. Information was gathered from 193 potato producers, 7local traders, 7 wholesalers, and 8 retailers. The survey result indicated that 27.94% of total farmland was allocated for potato production. The average yield of Potato in Sheka was 108qt/ ha. The major potato value chain actors were input suppliers, producers, commission agents, local traders, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. Potato producers in Masha district added 10.537%, Local traders were responsible for 25.603 % of value addition while wholesalers and Retailers add about 29.89 and 33.39 % of the value respectively. Creating sustainable value chain development by accessing new market centers and organizing cooperatives was vital for value chain producers in the study area.

Bamboo market in Ethiopia is not well developed and bamboo marketing as a viable alternative for farmers has become a very challenging issue. In the Homosha district, despite the abundant and valuable lowland bamboo resources, the income contribution of bamboo is very low and livelihood of smallholder farmers in the area is desperate due marketing challenges. Thus, the study was initiated to identify and analyze factors influencing bamboo culm market supply as well as its opportunities and challenges. Both primary and secondary data were used in this study. The primary data were collected from 141 household heads in three villages via household survey, key informant interviews, field observation, market assessment and stakeholder consultation workshop. The data were analyzed using STATA13. It was found that family size (in working age) and experience of culm selling were positively and significantly related to quantity of bamboo bundles supplied for sale at 5% significance level, whereas, education level, access to market information, marketing linkages and prices were positively and significantly related to quantity of bamboo bundles supplied for sale at 1% significance level. But, age of harvesters is significantly and negatively related to quantity of bamboo bundles supplied for sale at 5%. In spite of high bamboo resource in Homosha district, it is declining due natural and anthropogenic related activities. Reverse to this government and non-governmental organizations are working on rehabilitation activities in some areas of the district. Bamboo utilization is confined to household level and products are manufactured traditionally and there was a low local demand for these bamboo products. Market actor lack training and is few researches conducted on bamboo production, processing and utilization. Therefore, in addition to toughening interaction among harvesters and buyers, spreading of relevant information and establishing bamboo product market center and cooperatives, and engagement of relevant institutions to assist bamboo marketing, it is encouraged to train market actors on bamboo economic benefits and marketing as well as conduct research on production, processing, management and utilization.