This paper examines the intra-household decision-making patterns among spouses regarding agroforestry decisions in the eastern highlands of Uganda. The study uses both quantitative and qualitative data to examine spousal differences in the allocation of decision-making power over eight agroforestry decisions in dual-headed households. Quantitative data were collected through a cross-sectional survey in which both husbands and wives were interviewed separately and used to determine the decision-making power of spouses as well as the influence of individual and household characteristics on decision-making. Qualitative data from focus group discussions were collected to validate the quantitative findings. The study found that there were agreements and disagreements among spouses on how decision-making power is exercised over a range of agroforestry decisions. Wives allocated themselves more decision-making power than was assigned to them by their husbands. The higher allocation of decision-making power for wives tended to be in decisions linked to their roles and responsibilities in the household. The most critical factor influencing accord in decision-making was the number of years spent together by the couple while the number of children shared between the couple and farm-labour difference between husband and wife was the most significant for discord. Findings imply that most agroforestry interventions where wives participate without their spouses are bound to fail in dual-headed households because they wives limited decision-making power. It's desirable for programmes promoting agroforestry to integrate both husbands and wives in their interventions, for agroforestry to be more meaningful in meeting their divergent interests. This paper examines the intra-household decision-making patterns among spouses regarding agroforestry decisions in the eastern highlands of Uganda. The study uses both quantitative and qualitative data to examine spousal differences in the allocation of decision-making power over eight agroforestry decisions in dual-headed households. Quantitative data were collected through a cross-sectional survey in which both husbands and wives were interviewed separately and used to determine the decision-making power of spouses as well as the influence of individual and household characteristics on decision-making. Qualitative data from focus group discussions were collected to validate the quantitative findings. The study found that there were agreements and disagreements among spouses on how decision-making power is exercised over a range of agroforestry decisions. Wives allocated themselves more decision-making power than was assigned to them by their husbands. The higher allocation of decision-making power for wives tended to be in decisions linked to their roles and responsibilities in the household. The most critical factor influencing accord in decision-making was the number of years spent together by the couple while the number of children shared between the couple and farm-labour difference between husband and wife was the most significant for discord. Findings imply that most agroforestry interventions where wives participate without their spouses are bound to fail in dual-headed households because they wives limited decision-making power. It's desirable for programmes promoting agroforestry to integrate both husbands and wives in their interventions, for agroforestry to be more meaningful in meeting their divergent interests.

Demand for fresh fruit is steadily increasing in big cities of Northwestern Ethiopia. As a result, fruits are transported from nearby as well as long distance sources to urban centers such as Bahir Dar. The type of fruit crops available in the market and number of fruit retailers are increasing from time to time. However, the key challenge facing the sector is loss across the supply chain. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze fruit marketing practices, document causes and extent of postharvest losses in Bahir Dar fruit market. The study was conducted in June 2016 using semi structured questionnaire. Thirty-one fruit retailers were randomly selected and interviewed to obtain information on their socio-economic characteristics, fruit marketing practices and postharvest losses. Data analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results revealed that, 77.4% fruit retailers are less than 31 years old, 67.8% attended above primary school education, and 83.9% have less than six years fruit trading experience. Therefore, fruit retailers are young and educated but have very limited fruit trading experience. Of the seven fruit crops commonly sold in Bahir Dar market; mango, banana and avocado were the most prevalent. The average shelf life of fruits in retailers' hand is only 3 to 4 days and about 20% of the fruits purchased by retailers lost before reaching to consumers mainly due to inappropriate handling and lack of proper storage facility. Therefore, multifaceted interventions such as capacity development, improved fruit production and harvesting practice, and proper storage and transportation facilities establishment are required to reduce postharvest loss and extend fruit shelf-life.

Chicken production in West Gojjam zone was characterized by using indigenous chicken with low input-output level. Despite its diverse socio economic role for smallholder farmers, production and productivity of village chicken was very low. As the result, chicken producers were not benefited from the sector. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of characterizing chicken rearing practice, flock dynamics and determining the off-take rate of village chicken production system. It was conducted in West Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select representative respondents. A total of 500 farmers were interviewed. In the study area, the average numbers of local and exotic chickens kept by smallholder producers were 8.44+0.42 and 0.49+0.10chicken, respectively with the overall mean 8.93+0.42chicken. The flock structure was highly dominated by young chicks (3.82+0.28) and hen (2.47+0.09). The average chicken migrated into the flock per household per annum was 10.32+ 0.80 birds, whereas the outflow from the flock was 16.62+0.85birds. The number of chicken was higher at the middle of the year than the beginning and end of the year. On average, 2.9+0.12 layer chickens were kept per household. From which, in average 307.2+ 20.2 eggs were produced from local and improved breed in a year. Marketing in the district and PA were important marketing places for egg and live birds with the off-take rate of 34.94%. To improve chicken production in the study area, adaptive improved chicken breed should be introduced. Strategic vaccination, semi scavenging practices should be introduced and promoted in order to reduce chicken mortality. Capacity building through training and intensive follow up should also be made in order to enhance the level of awareness of smallholders on improved small scale poultry keeping practices.

The government of Ethiopia gives great attention to livestock development for the country's economy development. Having quality of animal feed is one of the pertinent components of livestock development. To improve the quality and quantity of animal feed in certain locality, farmers should be able to access and use appropriate knowledge for the particular problem at the right time and place. This research was conducted to assess agricultural knowledge management system in relation to improving the quality of animal feed in Bure district. To do so, the data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select representative respondents. SPSS software (version 15) was also used to analysis the data. As survey result shows, crop residue (92.2%), attela (91.1%), natural pasture (65.6%), hay (62.2%) and birnt (30%) were the major feed sources for dairy producers in Bure district. To improve the quality of feed for their dairy cows, dairy producers had used supplementing non-conventional feeds (like attela and birnt) after grazing (92.1%), green hay making (65.2%), supplement concentrate after grazing (41.6%) and developing improved forage (20.2%) as the major mechanism. Agricultural officers (60.2%) and farmers' own experiences (52.3%) were the major sources of knowledge for dairy producers in order to improve the quality of cattle feed. Informal discussion (56.8%), experience sharing sessions (36.4%) and on-walk observation (26.1%) were also the major means to access such knowledge. On the other hand, dairy producers had transferred this knowledge into their neighbors (95.1%), friends (91.4%) and relative (63.0%). This study clearly shows that in the study area the mechanisms that were used for improving the quality of cattle feed, did not properly improved the quality of the feed as the dairy cow need. Therefore, efforts should be done to introduce improved and more productive fodder types. Improved mechanisms (like urea treatment, urea molasses block, micro effective) should also be introduced to improve the palatability of available crop residue. In addition, to enhance the adoption rate of all these technologies, all concerned bodies should understand the communities' knowledge system and approach them through their common knowledge sources and strengthen their means of knowledge accessing and sharing strategies.

The study was conducted to analyze the predominant climatic risks and the strategies livestock farmers used to adapt climatic risks in Eastern Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Cross-sectional research design was used with mixed quantitative and qualitative research approach. The data were collected from 317 livestock farmers using household survey; and FGDs, key informant interviews and personal observation for complementation. The data were analyzed using STATA (version-14) and SPSS (version 23) software. The result shows that, 79.8% of livestock farmers were affected by different climatic risks over the period of 2009-2018. They were affected by drought, animal disease outbreak (ADOB), flood and frost. The percentage of the farmers affected by climatic risks have been fluctuating from year to years but the trends show increased over the last ten years. Every year, 6.7%, 6.8%, 6.4% and 3.6% of livestock farmers were affected by drought, frost, animal disease outbreak (ADOB) and flood, respectively. Seasonally, livestock farmers impacted by drought, flood and frost in autumn, summer and spring, respectively. Animal disease outbreak has occurred in all seasons but higher in autumn. The perception of the farmers was measured based on the frequencies of climatic risks occurrences and the severity level of their impacts. Majority of the farmers perceived that the frequencies of droughts (49.8%) and frosts (43.2%) increased over the last ten years; whereas flood (68.8%) and ADOB (67.5%) decreased. The impacts of drought and ADOB were found at moderate level of severity with the value of 2.2 and 1.8 WAI, respectively; whereas frost and flood at lower severity level, which accounts for 1.4 and 1.3 WAI values, respectively. Saving surplus feed (99.4%), using modern animal healthcare (91.8%), conserving soil and water resources (70.8%) and improving/ customizing animal shelters/shades (60.3%); and keeping stress resistance breeds (52.7%) were major strategies for livestock farmers to adapt to climatic risks. These findings imply that drought and ADOB are the predominant climatic risks for livestock farmers in Eastern Amhra Region. Drought majorly occur in autumn; whereas ADOBs occur throughout the year. The farmers also use multiple strategies to adapt to the diverse impacts of the risks. However, the farmers are still vulnerable to the risks and remaining in food insecure. To be the farmers more effective, therefore, the existing adaptation strategies should be supported with science and technology to create stress resistance breeds, improve the quality and availability of feeds and animal health management.