Despite number of improved teff varieties with their production package (teff technologies, here after) are released/recommended for dryland areas, failure to integrate farmers' desired traits and profitability analysis weakened their adoption rate. Scale-wide participatory evaluation and promotion of improved teff technologies was thus conducted to assess their profitability, farmer preferences and constraints in Northeast Amhara drylands. Zoble and Kuncho improved teff technologies were compared with the local teff production practice for three consecutive years on un-replicated farms using 270 farmers. All necessary data were collected and analyzed in descriptive statistics, cost-benefit ratio, weighted matrix and poisson regression model. Therefore, Zoble teff provided 1620 and 1280 kgha −1 average yield in Sekota and Lasta districts, respectively. Kuncho teff provided average yield of 1830 and 1420 kgha −1 in Lasta and Sekota districts. They also ensured 3.7 and 4.5 ETB return for 1 ETB investment on production costs in Sekota and Lasta districts, orderly. Moreover, Zoble and Kuncho teff were primary and secondary choices of farmers in Sekota, and vice-versa in Lasta. The regression result revealed that except land holding size of the household head, other Ademe Mihiretu ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ademe Mihiretu is an Ethiopian citizen and graduate of Rural Development (MSc), Haramaya University (honours). Currently, He is a full time researcher of Socioeconomic and Agricultural extension in Sekota Dry-land Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. Ademe has published a significant number of research articles in reputable journals worldwide. He has also reviewed manuscripts invited from reputable publishers (Taylor & Francis, Springer, Sage), related to his field of specialization.

The main objective of the study was to create a wider demand and assess the farmer's perception on ox fattening technique by using locally available rice straw and concentrate supplementation. A total of 55 oxen with similar age and body condition were selected for the study from 44 volunteer participant farmers. Urea treated rice straw used as a basal diet and 3 kg concentrate as a supplement per ox per day were used as the experimental animals. The feeding experiment was done for 105 days including 15 days acclimatization period. The analytical result showed that the average weight of the fattened oxen changed from 313.4 to 407.2 kg. The partial budget analysis result also showed that ox fattening by using the above method of feeding and management was profitable with average net benefit of 1654 ETB. The sensitivity analysis result showed that if the price of output becomes constant and the price of the inputs rise by 20%, the fattening by using the above method has a positive return. Farmers report on the fattening technology during field day is very appreciable and they are willing to continue with the same method of fattening. Based on the result, fattening sector generates an alternative income for small holder farmer's livelihood diversification.

Wag Himra zone is one of the Amhara Regional State which has a potential honey production and it is a quite suitable for apiculture activities. The objectives of the study were (1) quantifying the determinant factors of the probability of adoption, (2) evaluating the intensity use of modern beehive and (3) identifying the major constraints of modern beehive production in wag Himra and north Wollo zones, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling methods were employed. 268 rural beekeepers were interviewed for this study with proportional random sampling method from adopters and non-adopters. Among the 268 beekeepers, 97 (36.19%) and 171 (63.81%) were non-adopters and adopters respectively. Descriptive analysis and econometric (double-hurdle model) were applied using SPSS-22 and STATA-12, respectively. The first hurdle result revealed that age, the number of livestock owned, educational level, the number of local hives beekeepers possessed, training provided, the the total annual income of beekeepers, credit service, distance to Woreda agricultural office, extension service and participation in off-farm activities are the main factors that affect the probability of adoption decision. Moreover, the second hurdle revealed that age, the number of local hives beekeepers possessed, training access, credit service, and distance to Woreda agricultural office are the main factors that affect the intensity use of modern beehive. Additionally, Pests and predators, drought and lack of bee equipment and accessories are ranked as the first, second and third major constraints of beekeeping respectively which lead the bee colony to abscond and reduction of honey yield. According to the finding the authors safely recommended that those significant factors in adoption decision and intensity use of modern beehive should be considered by policy makers and planners of governmental and NGOs in setting their policies and strategies of honey production improvement interventions.

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