Abstract. Sisay T, Alemayehu K, Wuletaw Z. 2017. Population dynamics and performance of exotic versus indigenous chicken population in the selected districts of North Western Amhara,. Chicken in Ethiopia contributes, respectively, 98.5% and 99.2% of the national egg and chicken meat production. The total chicken population is estimated to be 56.87 million of which 95.86, 2.79 and 1.35% are indigenous, crossbred and exotic breeds, respectively. The objective of this paper was to quantify the population dynamics and performance of exotic versus indigenous chicken population in the selected districts of northwestern Amhara, Ethiopia. Banja and Burie districts and six Kebeles (three/district) were purposively selected. A total 180 respondents were selected by systematic and simple random sampling techniques for the survey. On the other hand, a total of 90 exotic chicken owners were purposively selected for monitoring and evaluation. GLM procedure of SAS (2002) was used to quantify the fixed effects of agroecology and breeds on the egg production performance. The results revealed that the majorities (91.12%) of distributed exotic chickens were kept in traditional/backyard production system. The overall mean egg production for exotic chickens (141.58±11.5) was too low. Significantly, the mean number of clutch per year per hen of Bovans Brown chicken was higher (4.51±0.11 days) than Bovans white breeds (3.5±0.10 days). Shortage at first egg was attained from midland of Koekoek chicken breed (5.38±0.24 months) than from highland (6.54±0.10 months) in Bovans Brown chicken. A highly significant difference in mortality was observed between Bovans Brown (89%) and Koekoek breed (32.4%), respectively due to traditional farmers' management practice. Distribution of different exotic chicken genotypes in the region is increasing from time to time for the upgrading of local chicken ecotypes but, the survival, productivity and population size of exotic and their crosses were too low. On the other hand, the population size of the indigenous chicken and its productivity remains almost constant. Causes of chick mortality in the study area were disease and predator which need to be considered in the development plan of the districts. This is due to the inappropriate production system, genotype, and management. Therefore, production and productivity will be increased through the selection of indigenous chicken ecotypes and crossbreed or upgrading by introduction exotic cocks, pullets and or fertile eggs of high egg producing strains with an appropriate production system and management in respective production system.

Sisay T, Alemayehu K, Haile M. 2018. Handling and marketing of dairy products in and around Bahir Dar Milkshed Areas, Ethiopia. Trop Drylands 2: 48-58. This study was conducted to assess handling, processing and marketing of milk and milk products using 180 sample households in the formal survey with a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Market channels and chains of milk and milk products were described using market data from sample households, key informants and sale records. Overall, 45.6% of the sample households supplied milk for market with the highest in Bahir Dar City, followed by Tis Abay and lowest proportion was at Sebatamit rural kebele. Overall, the average amount of milk daily supplied to market was 6.6 liters/household and the figure at Bahir Dar City, Sebatamit and Tis Abay rural kebeles were 9.7, 5.6 and 2.33 liters, respectively. Daily milk delivered through cooperative and other sale outlets as farm gate, customers` gate on delivery system and farm shop. Season, location and interaction of these factors had highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect on volume of milk monthly collected at cooperatives. Different market channels, outlets, and agents identified for various dairy products; butter being with the longest channel, followed by marketing of milk and low-fat milk/ semi-skim milk to pass through about three channels. Milk supplied to market, generally constrained by feed shortage, lack of improved breed, unreliable milk market, unattractive price and producers` limited awareness. Dairy cooperatives generally, create milk market outlet and supplied various processed milk products to market; of which low-fat milk (semi-skim milk) is sold in its fresh state which might be used as a less expensive product. Hence, to the paramount role of the cooperatives in the area strengthening the linkage between producers and consumers, which in turn provide reliable milk market and benefit producers from market opportunity of dairying, the constraints limiting the supply of marketable milk need to be addressed.

Sisay T. 2018. Review: Agriculture-industry linkage and technology adoption in Ethiopia: Challenges and opportunities. Trop Drylands 2: 18-27. High rate of agricultural growth has far-reaching positive implications for economic development of low-income countries in terms of increasing employment and accelerating poverty reduction. For Ethiopia to achieve middle-income status by 2025 and make substantial inroads against food insecurity, concerted and strategic investment and strategic choices in the agricultural sector are vital. Agricultural linkage encloses generating and transferring agricultural technologies to enhance productivity, reduce loss, and improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries as well as the country’s economy. The objective of this paper was to review the current status of linkage between agriculture-industry actors, extent of technology adoption system, challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia. The result of the review study shows that different factors are constraining the system. Most of the agriculture industry linkage and technologies promoted through the extension system and adoption levels are far below the possible expectation in the country. Agriculture research industries lack effective mechanisms of transferring their technologies to the end users, inadequate technological skilled manpower, poor market linkage between technology multiplication enterprises and technology users, lack of responsible body to transfer technology were the major challenges in Ethiopia. Factors constraining the linkage between stakeholders and technology adoption level of Universities, TEVTs, agriculture Research institutions and agriculture sector are wide ranging from poor linkage between stakeholders and weak involvement of professionals are among the main problems that constraining the system. Weak link between research, education, and extension and the contact of these organizations have with farmers is among the main bottlenecks in agricultural technology development, adoption level. Therefore, strong University and Research-industry linkage is needed in the country.