A sample survey was conducted in six districts of three woreda in South Omo zone of SNNPR to assess smallholder beef cattle fattening and marketing systems under farmer management condition. Using a purposive sampling technique, a total of 120 households from six districts were included in the survey. The sample respondents indicated that about 97.5% were castrate their animals for fattening purpose while only 2.5% didn't. About 25.6% of the sample respondents had experience in fattening of uncastrated animals while 74.4% had not experienced in fattening uncastrated animal. About 90.6% of the fattening system they carry out was outdoors,5.1% was indoor and 4.3% were both indoor and outdoor. About 78.9% of the sample respondents indicated that the establishment of farmers' cooperative organization could help to exploit the existing livestock potential in a better way while 21.1% didn't think. About 77.9% Of the respondents indicated that although individual farmer tells the selling price for their own product, they were unable to sell at their own selling price. This is because market price setting for the product was by trader ,15.9% was by negotiation,2.7% was by farmer individually,1.8% respondents determined prices through involvement of brokers/middlemen-this offers the lowest profit margin for the producer due to the fee paid to the middle men and 0.9% was by both broker and negotiation. According to sample respondents, the majority of individual farmer didn't set the price for their own product, they were price takers. Cattle marketing in the study area function at two levels, namely village level and primary markets.

Lack of information on the production and commercialization status of improved Panicum grass is one of the major livestock production impediments in South Omo. The improved Panicum grass is a perennial grass species used throughout the tropics for livestock feeding. Therefore, the present study was conducted to understand the seed and hay production status and the economic visibility of improved Panicum grass cultivation. The face-to-face interviews were conducted with improved Panicum grass producers. The quantitative data, such as the amount of bales and seed produced, and the qualitative data, such as agro-pastoralists’ perceptions, were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and the Likert scale. The results revealed that the seed yield and herbage productivity after seed harvest were 2.5 quintals and 788 bales per hectare per cut, respectively. The average income generated from the sale of herbage and seed of Panicum grass was 325,350 ETB and 442,500 ETB per hectare per year, respectively. Based on the results, the authors concluded that joint efforts are needed to step the agro-pastoralists out of the poverty vicious cycle through promoting wide-scale improved Panicum grass production by linking products to market sources in addition to legumePanicum grass-based cattle and goat fattening intervention.

A study was conducted in Hamer and Benna-Tsemay districts of the South Omo zone of Ethiopia, with the objectives of identifying and mapping the market chain and its functions, providing the picture of supply and use patterns, identifying and suggesting possible intervention of value additive techniques, identifying potential opportunities and constraints in the production, processing and marketing of Frankincense. Twostage sampling strategy used to select Frankincense collectors for the study the producers/collectors and traders within society as well nearby marketing systems were studied through group discussion, personal observation, and using a structured questionnaire where each household was taken as a unit of analysis (45 households from Hammer, 15 from Benna-Tsemay). Simple descriptive statistical tools were used for the analysis. Observation among value chain were summarized using Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Treat (SWOT) analysis and software called Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) were also used for the analysis. Survey results show that almost all of the respondents confirmed that the incense products potentially collected from the natural forest found far away from their villages. Currently the marketing of Frankincense both at Hammer and Benatsemay Woreda of south Omo zone in general is not well developed and there is no established market in place. To advance the value chain the of Frankincense and sustainably contribute to the income of pastoral communities formation of collector groups, associations or cooperatives is needed to foster cooperation and coordination of the collection and marketing of Frankincense.

The Ethiopian government has a package of encouraging youths to participate in small and micro agricultural enterprises by giving legal certificate for youths who were organized in-group to start the business by providing financial supports in terms of credit. However, youths are less willing to participate in agricultural enterprises. Even after being organized into groups and having supports from government, some of them were not starting the business and some were interrupting the business they have been organized. Due to these, huge amount of money from the government, which was allocated for this purpose, is not being used as expected. Therefore, this study was intended to assess factors affecting rural and peri-urban youth participation in agricultural enterprises in Bena-Tsemay and Debubi Ari woreda of south omo zone. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select 155 sample households. Logit model was used to analyze determinants of youth's participation in agricultural enterprises. The result of this study indicated that 32.3% respondents were participated and 67.7% were not participated in enterprises. Econometric results revealed that variables such as farm size, institutional capacity building, and weather road significantly affected youths’ participation in agricultural enterprises at 1% and 5% significance level. The study recommends that the provision of land for the agricultural enterprises should consider the size/type of the enterprises that youth are willingness to participate. The government should specify the institution/sector to enterprise type and consideration of all-weather roads for each enterprise type during organizing youth in different agricultural enterprises is important. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 12(1): 84-93, June 2022

Korarima is a known cash crop in the South Omo zone and provides a wide range of economic and sociocultural benefits. Even though its economic and socio-cultural importance the development of the Korarima sector along with the value chain is hampered by several constraints. Hence, the study aimed to analyze the Korarima value chain in the South Omo zone. Using a two-stage sampling technique, 120 Kororima producers were selected to collect primary data through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and econometrics model (multivariate probit model) were used for data analysis. The study identified three major Korarima market outlet choices such as collectors, retailers, and wholesalers as alternatives to Korarima producers to sell the majority of their products. Thus, collectors accounted for 82.2%, wholesalers (73.6%), and retailers (35.5%) of the total sold. The results of a multivariate probit model indicated that sex of household, credit access, family size, price information, market distance, and extension contact of farmers significantly affected the market outlet choice decisions in one or another way. Furthermore, no brand indicating this crop, inadequate infrastructural development, and market accessibility, weak extension services regarding improved varieties were major problems identified. Therefore, it is better to work on the brand name of this particular crop to trace up to the end market, infrastructural development and market accessibility, extension services provided regarding the improved Korarima variety, and accessing formal market information from the concerned body are essential to enhance Korarima producers’ benefit and bargaining power through avoiding information asymmetry.