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Research Article
Examining the Influence of Rice Farmers' Characteristics on Extension Service Sources: Insights from Northwestern Ethiopia
Ayele Tesfahun Gashu*,
Adane Melak Beyene
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2024
Pages:
28-40
Received:
9 April 2024
Accepted:
30 April 2024
Published:
24 May 2024
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between farmers' characteristics and their access to agricultural extension services from multiple sources. The researchers collected cross-sectional data from a sample of 384 rice-farming households and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and a binary Probit regression model. The result showed that age of the household, rice farming experience, plot number, cultivated rice land, dependency ratio, and crop diversification are drivers of receiving agricultural extension service. The study also explored the factors that drive farmers' choice of service providers for agricultural extension at the household level. The findings indicate that factors such as sex, education level, household size, dependency ratio, oxen number, crop income, and cultivated rice land are the main drivers of farmers' selection of service providers. This implies that farmers' socio-economic characteristics influence their choice of extension service providers. Given the current emphasis on demand-driven agricultural extension services, the findings of this study are particularly relevant. It is suggested that for better effectiveness of agricultural extension, it would be practical for providers of extension services to target a certain type of farmer that they can best serve.
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between farmers' characteristics and their access to agricultural extension services from multiple sources. The researchers collected cross-sectional data from a sample of 384 rice-farming households and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and a binary Probit regression model. The result s...
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Research Article
Evaluating the Onfarm Performance of True Seed Shallot Varieties in Northwest Ethiopia
Ayele Tesfahun Gashu*,
Adane Melak Beyene
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2024
Pages:
41-48
Received:
23 May 2024
Accepted:
18 June 2024
Published:
3 July 2024
Abstract: Shallot (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum) is an important vegetable crop in Ethiopia, but its production has declined in recent years due to a lack of true seed-propagated varieties. This study aimed to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of true seed shallot varieties in three districts of the Amhara region: Fogera, Libokemkem, and Dera. The study involved the participation of host farmers in variety demonstrations and the evaluation of the demonstrated varieties by experienced farmers. Two true seed shallot varieties, DZsht-157-1B and DZsht-91-2B, were compared to the local Bombay red variety. Bulb yield data was collected from one-meter square quadrants, and farmers' preferences were assessed using a direct matrix ranking approach. The results showed that the true seed shallot varieties outperformed the local Bombay red variety in terms of bulb yield. In the Fogera district, DZsht-157-1B and DZsht-91-2B had 40.1% and 0.3% higher bulb yields, respectively, compared to Bombay red. In the Libokemkem district, DZsht-91-2B had a 4.2% yield advantage over the local variety. The farmer evaluation results revealed that the true seed shallot varieties were preferred over the local Bombay red variety in various aspects, such as higher bulb yield, redness, and prolonged food span. The findings of this study suggest that the true seed shallot varieties have the potential to improve shallot production in the study areas and potentially in other parts of Ethiopia. To promote the adoption of these varieties, it is crucial to ensure the availability and accessibility of high-quality seeds to farmers, as well as to educate them on the importance of maintaining the true seed to bulb and bulb to true seed cycle. This will enable the continuous propagation of the true seed shallot varieties and ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality planting material, contributing to the revitalization of shallot production in Ethiopia and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Abstract: Shallot (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum) is an important vegetable crop in Ethiopia, but its production has declined in recent years due to a lack of true seed-propagated varieties. This study aimed to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of true seed shallot varieties in three districts of the Amhara region: Fogera, Libokemkem, and Dera. The s...
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Research Article
Comparism of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) in Optimisation of Soybean Soapstock Biodiesel Production
Chinedu Gabriel Mbah*
,
Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo,
Njideka Ophelia Ezetoha
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2024
Pages:
49-63
Received:
25 May 2024
Accepted:
24 June 2024
Published:
8 July 2024
Abstract: Soybean soapstock (SS), a lipid rich by-product of soybean oil production is a promising feedstock for the production ofbiodiesel due to its availability and affordability. In the esterification and transesterification reactions involving soyabeansoapstock, sodium hydroxide, methanol and n-hexane were used as catalyst, solvent and co-solvent respectively. The physico-chemical properties of the biodiesel obtained were determinedusing the Association of Analytical Chemist (AOAC) and American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) methods. The esterification and transesterification reactions were optimised using both response surface methodology (RSM) under design expert 7.0 platform and Particle swarm technique in ANFIS (ANFIS-PSO) using the MATLAB software. The optimized acid value from the esterification reaction using RSM and ANFIS-PSO were 4.956 and 1.488 while the yield obtained were 97.29% and 99.91%respectively with ANFIS-PSO proving to be the better optimization technique in both cases. Comparison plots made for both reactions shows the ANFIS-PSO curve mirroring the experimental and thus signifying a closer trend when compared to the RSM curve. The suitability of the ANFIS-PSO prediction was further highlighted by the error analysis carried out on both techniques. The Residual sum of squares (RSS), Mean absolute error (MAE), Root mean square error (RMSE), Correlation coefficient (R), Coefficient of determination (R2), Adjusted R2, Absolute average deviation (AAD) and Mean absolute percent error (MAPE) values for the ANFIS-PSO predictions in both reactions were better than the RSM predictions. It can thus be concluded that soybean soapstock is a viable feedstock for biodiesel production and ANFIS-PSO is a more efficient optimization technique when compared with RSM in esterification and transesterification of soybean soapstock.
Abstract: Soybean soapstock (SS), a lipid rich by-product of soybean oil production is a promising feedstock for the production ofbiodiesel due to its availability and affordability. In the esterification and transesterification reactions involving soyabeansoapstock, sodium hydroxide, methanol and n-hexane were used as catalyst, solvent and co-solvent respec...
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