No abstract

The novel coronavirus caused the death of many people globally, and in Ethiopia. The death of people due to COVID surpasses 1,466,289with more than 63,135,973 cases in the world. This study aimed to identify the barriers toward the understanding of COVID-19, the rural (agrarians) public commitment to respond coronavirus, and the factors that affect their preparedness in rural Ethiopia. Probit regression and descriptive statistics were used to analyze data from a sample of 190 respondents. The result revealed that the public infrastructural problems (roads, health centers, telecommunication and broadcasting service) were the main barriers identified in this study. In response, the agricultural and health extension providers, college and university students, local administrators and government official, religious leaders, and community elders were contributing to enhance the public understanding and preparedness. The model result confirmed that gender, age group, family education level, membership to communal association, family mobile usage, health extension service, non-farm income, and economic situation were significant factors for preparedness. Intervention aimed at easing identified key limit factors to rural and agrarian community preparedness as well as the way to enhance public understanding through reasonable support to local stakeholders against COVID-19.

Wheat is an important industrial and food grain, which ranks second among the most important cereal crops in the world after rice, and traded internationally. The area coverage, production, and productivity of wheat is increasing from time to time steadily, and fluctuating as a result of population growth, changing food preferences and a strong urbanization trend. The main market participants of wheat are producers, processor, assembler, wholesaler, retailers, and consumers, financial institutions, governments, NGO. The market concentration ratio of wheat in Ethiopia is about 31.67%, which indicates the market structure is weakly competitive. Absence of license, lack of enough working capital, higher completion and lack of trading experience are the main barriers of entry in wheat market. The price of wheat produce in the market is determined by the farmer, market through negotiation, and traders. Traders used fair scale-weighing (81.2%), giving better price relative to others (8.24%), giving credit (7.06 %), and visiting their suppliers (3.53%) as a strategy to attract their suppliers. The average marketing cost, profit margin, TGMM and GMM of wheat is 162birr, 177.5 birr/quintal, 30.32% and 14.63% respectively. Shortage of capital, lack of credit access, lack of market information, involvement of cooperatives, presence of unlicensed traders, inadequate market infrastructure higher transportation cost are the main challenges of wheat market. Therefore, strengthening the licensed traders, building market infrastructure and improving access to wheat market information and credit for wheat market participants should be recommended.

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.

Background The novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) arisen in Ethiopia in early March at its capital city (Addis Ababa) and is now spreading to different administrative regions of the country. This study aimed to assess the attentiveness of the rural community to COVID 19, social work response, and major factors that affect rural community preparedness and response to COVID 19 in Ethiopia. Methods Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected from a total of 190 sample respondents. Econometric model particularly a probit model was used to identify these major factors that affect rural households’ preparedness for the pandemic. Results Rural households recognize little about COVID 19 and in response, a few community groups, which consist of youth and university students, religious leaders, and elders were engaged to reduce the consequence of COVID 19. Results from the probit model employed indicate that literacy status (household head and family member), gender, age, and economical status of the households; extension information on COVID 19, cash income from non/off-farm activities, participation in community groups, and ownership of mobile phone with a household all influence households preparedness. The main barriers include a lack of information on COVID 19 and financial constraints. Conclusions Commitment to preparedness and response to COVID 19 by the rural community increases with enhancing proper information dissemination system and applicable support. Thus, much more attention needs to be given by a government and other stakeholders to reduce the venerability of the rural community in Ethiopia.