The study was aimed to analyze avocado and mango value chains actors and identify factors that determine avocado and mango market supply in the selected area of Gurage zone. A total of 259 avocado and mango producers were selected through three-stage sampling technique and 151 traders from different level were used to collect primary data using questionnaire and semi-structured interview. Descriptive and econometrics method of analysis were applied for analysis. Value chain approach analysis result revealed that input suppliers, avocado and mango producer, collectors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers were the main actors in avocado and mango value chain. The profitability and gross marketing margin approach of market analysis showed that wholesalers received the highest marketing margin (34.62%) and highest profit share (36.75%), while producers received the least marketing margins (15.17%) from avocado and mango trade. Generally, all market participants were operating at profitable level, but producers were relatively disadvantaged from the market as they received lowest share from consumers' price. Moreover, sex of household, land allocated to mango, market distance, farming experience, extension service, market price, and family labor determined mango market supply. Likewise, education level of household, market distance, farm experience, extension service, and family labor affected market supply of avocado. Accordingly, market performance of avocado and mango has shown that producers were relatively disadvantaged and various determinants contributed to reduced market supply of mango and avocado. Therefore, strengthening of extension service and education of farmers, efficient use of family labor, and improvement of farmers' experience and infrastructure is recommended.

With a view to study the effects of irrigation scheduling on the water use efficiency and physiological response and molecular basis of maize hybrids of different maturity groups, a field experiment was conducted at Water Management Research Center (WMRC), Belvatagi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India during 2010-2011 rabi season in Malaprabha Command Area'. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plot comprised four irrigation levels (0.4. 0.6 and 0.8 irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation (IW/CPE) ratio and irrigation at critical growth stages of maize) and subplots were three maize hybrids [PEEHM-5 (extra early), PEHM-2 (early) and 900 M gold (full season)] were tested. The results reveal that significantly higher grain yield (P<0.05) was at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio followed by irrigation at critical growth sages of maize. Among the maize genotypes tested, full season 900 M Gold recorded significantly greater grain yield (84.61 q ha-1) over PEHM-2 (early) and PEEHM-5 (extra-early). The moisture stress due to 0.4 IW/CPE ratio prolonged the days which reached 50% anthesis and 50% silking thus widening the anthesis-silking interval. Significant positive correlations (P<0.05) of maize grain yield with 100 seed weight (r=0.81), cob length (r=0.83), harvest index (r=0.82) and water-use efficiency (WUE; r=0.61) were found. The RWC decreased significantly (P<0.05) from 82.53 to 75.24% with increasing moisture stress on account of variations in the availability of soil moisture in the crop root zone. WUE was significantly low (P<0.05) in 0.8 IW/CPE ratio, despite providing more amount of water which could be attributed to a greater use of water with relatively lesser increase in yield. The present investigation shows that providing four irrigations at critical growth stages of maize hybrids followed by either three or five irrigations seem to have higher WUE. This approach could save water up to 29% with slight reduction of grain yield by 12% over providing full irrigation. Molecular analysis of three hybrids revealed the possibility of introgressing the yield enhancing traits from full season hybrid into early and extra-early hybrids, the latter clustered distinctly with each other. This strategy besides saving water helps tail-end farmers in choosing additional crop for double cropping in the command areas.

Khat is the second largest export item with great economic value in Ethiopia, but the ongoing increased number of chewers in the country indirectly affects economic productivity by decreasing work-hours, household's economic production, diversion of money to buy khat, absenteeism from work and unemployment. The study aimed at analyzing the status of khat consumption and identifying the determinants of consumption level of khat in Wolkite town of Ethiopia. Primary and secondary data sources were used to obtain relevant data required for this study. A total of 110 sample respondents were used to collect primary data. Double hurdle model was employed to identify the determinants of khat consumption. The Probit part of the model result revealed that age of respondents, religion, educational level, peer-influence and perceived benefit of khat determine consumption decision as expected. Results from truncated part of Double hurdle showed employment status, perceived benefit, education level, khat price and work environment susceptibility determine the level of khat consumption in the study area. It is to recommended to strengthen the provision of formal education, encourage youths' knowledge through different training and experience sharing, facilitate a program to provide especial education on socio-economic and health consequences of khat chewing to primary, secondary, preparatory and university students, reduce unemployment through providing option job opportunities, strengthen the provision of a choice of sport station and facilities to the society, and enhance safe working environment for khat chewing to be done by required stakeholders.

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