Pre-extension demonstration of ploughing dimension in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivation at Laska Zuria district, Basketo Zone of South Ethiopia

2026-02-09T20:00:03+03:00

In sweet potato cultivation, the land preparation method plays a significant role in yield improvement and soil and water conservation. Depending on their experiences, farmers continuously use vertical ploughing dimensions for sweet potato cultivation without clear justification in the Basketo Zone without considering its long term impact. The aim of the study was to show the comparative advantage of applying ploughing dimensions on sweet potato cultivation at farm land measured with a moderate slope 10-15%s of Laska Zuria district of Basketo Zone in the 2024 Belg cropping season. A total of 12 trial farmers were selected from two sweet potato growing kebeles. The selected trial farmers prepared their farmlands in vertical and horizontal ploughing dimensions. Locally adapted sweet potato (FAO) was used as a test crop. Spacing of 60 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants with a seed rate of 55,555 cuttings per hectare, stem cutting length of 25 cm, and a plot size of 200m² in each ploughing dimensions was used. A thick geo-membrane plastic sheet was used to collect eroded soil particles. A total of 42 participants took part in training from 2 kebeles. Agronomic data were collected and analyzed using the mean. Other social data were collected using focus group discussion. A sweet potato yields 12.5 and 14 t/ ha of vertical and horizontal ploughing dimensions, respectively, and yield advantage of 12 % per hectare and mean annual soil losses reduced to 21.6% (6.5 t/ha) in horizontal ploughing dimension. The result revealed that the practice of vertical ploughing increases soil loss where farmers commonly set rows parallel to slope direction. This means the rainwater may take soil sediment and increase the water lodging condition. Accordingly, the farmer’s first preference was implementing horizontal ploughing on their farm land in terms of fewer occurrences of flood and good root yield and better soil and water conservation. Thus, the horizontal ploughing dimension of the land preparation method can be recommended to increase the yield of sweet potato and conserve soil in the study area and similar land settings.

Keywords: Demonstration ratio; Horizontal ploughing; Moderate slope; Root yield; Soil loss; Vertical ploughing

Analyzing the impact of remittances on household food security in protracted crisis settings: Evidence from North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

2026-05-19T17:29:47+03:00

Remittance flows through migrant networks constitute an important livelihood strategy for households facing persistent shocks, contributing to improved welfare and reduced vulnerability, particularly in protracted crisis contexts. This study examines the effect of remittances on household food security in the North Wollo Zone of Ethiopia. A stratified multi-stage cluster sampling technique was employed to select 384 households, comprising both remittance recipients and non-recipients, from five purposively chosen kebeles. Primary data were collected through structured household surveys, complemented by key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The analysis integrates descriptive statistics with econometric estimation using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to identify the causal impact of remittance income on food security outcomes. The findings reveal that remittances have a statistically significant and positive effect on household food security. Specifically, 8.3% of remittance-receiving households were food secure, compared to only 2.5% among non-receiving households. The estimated average treatment effect on the treated (ATT = -2.7, p < 0.001) indicates a meaningful reduction in food insecurity attributable to remittance inflows. Food security outcomes also vary across household characteristics. Older-headed households (aged 60 and above) demonstrate relatively better food security status, while land ownership and participation in non-farm income-generating activities are positively associated with improved outcomes. Thus, remittances function as informal social protection mechanisms in crisis-affected settings, enhancing household resilience to food insecurity. The results indicate that remittances strengthen household resilience against food insecurity, but their efficacy depends on more general socioeconomic and contextual conditions, thus they should not be seen as a sufficient or assured condition.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Food security; North Wollo; Protracted crises; Remittances; Resilience

Omo International Journal of Sciences

Pre-extension demonstration of ploughing dimension in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivation at Laska Zuria district, Basketo Zone of South Ethiopia

Analyzing the impact of remittances on household food security in protracted crisis settings: Evidence from North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia