Menfese Tadesse

Background: Sidama possesses extensive indigenous knowledge regarding infant illnesses described as “ feyancho ”. Feyancho has a widespread recognition among Sidama people, though poorly documented in scientific literature. This study aimed to document the indigenous understanding of this infantile disease and examine associated clinical and biochemical profiles in the Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. Methods: A household-based cross-sectional study was conducted in nine districts selected using systematic random sampling method. Data was collected through household surveys (n=436), focus group discussions (FGDs), and clinical assessments. Clinical and biochemical evaluations were performed on children affected by” feyancho” disease. Result: The overall prevalence of “ feyancho ” was 59.52%. Most respondents (66.51%) believed that maternal health influences the occurrence of “feyancho” disease. In the study group, liver function tests showed elevated levels of SGOT (AST), ALP, and direct bilirubin in more than half of the children. Additionally, 25% presented low glucose and elevated total bilirubin. Hematological analyses revealed significant increases in LYM (+128%), EOS (+76.92%), LYM% (+79.6%), RDW-CV (+36.23%), PDW (+35.74%), and PCT (+1015.79%). Conversely, decreases were observed in NEU (–29.05%), NEU% (–36.78%), RBC (–13.26%), HGB (–28.07%), HCT (–29.36%), MCV (–20.73%), and PLT (–25.67%). Conclusion: The Sidama people’s indigenous knowledge of infantile diseases remains an integral part of local health practices. Clinical and biochemical findings suggest conditions such as microcytic anemia, inflammation, or chronic infections. Safeguarding this traditional knowledge and validating it scientifically is crucial, requiring more comprehensive research.

The current study is aimed at investigating the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (BEHP), which pose a potential risk to human health, in soil samples collected from a teff-Acacia decurrerns-charcoal production system (TACP system) in northern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from the TACP system and from an adjacent teff monocropping system (TM system) from 0 to 20 cm soil depth. Individual PAHs and total concentrations of PAHs and BEHP generally exhibited no significant variation between the TM and the TACP systems over three rotations. In the land-use systems, the mean concentration of PAHs decreased in the order phenanthrene > fluorene > pyrene > chrysene. Fluorene (22.84–24.69 ng g⁻¹ dry soil), pyrene (21.99 ng g⁻¹), and chrysene (21.79 ng g⁻¹) were detected in the TACP system only, suggesting that they were from charcoal production. The maximum concentration of BEHP recorded in the soil samples was 104.00 µg g⁻¹, which could be attributed to the polyethylene (PE) bags used for planting the Acacia decurrens seedlings of the TACP system. In soil samples, the sum of all PAHs analyzed ranged from not detected (ND) to 170.69 ng g⁻¹, which is below the limits of prevention established by European regulations for soils (3000 ng g⁻¹) and previous studies. Carcinogenic equivalent (BaP-TEQ) and mutagenic equivalent (BaP-MEQ) concentrations calculated for the individual PAHs in the land-use systems ranged from ND to 0.374 ng g⁻¹ and from ND to 0.218 ng g⁻¹, respectively, which is far below many international safety standards. Our results indicate that the charcoal production and the use of the charcoal residues as soil amendment in the TACP system is safe concerning soil contamination by PAHs and BEHP and the risk of cancer and mutation.

Lack of sanitation is the underlying cause of many diarrheal infections and associated deaths. Improving sanitation through the set-up of ecological sanitation dry toilets, followed by the thermophilic composting of human excreta, could offer a solution. In addition, treating the excreta via thermophilic composting allows us to recycle the nutrients to be used as fertilizer for agriculture. However, for this purpose, the compost should be free of pathogens. We conducted a thermophilic composting trial over 204 to 256 days with human excreta, along with vegetable scraps and teff straw, with and without biochar. A sawdust–cattle manure mixture with the same supplements served as a control treatment. To evaluate the hygienic quality of the mature compost, the bacterial indicators Escherichia coli and Salmonella were assessed using the cultivation-based most probable number method. In addition, Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were quantified through light microscopy. The amount of detected E. coli was below the thresholds of German and European regulations for organic fertilizer. Salmonella and Ascaris eggs were not detected. No significant differences between the treatments were observed. Thus, the composting process was efficient in decreasing the number of potential human pathogens. The mature compost fulfilled the legal regulations on organic fertilizer regarding potential human pathogens.

Low nutrient input and low soil fertility are limiting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The main objectives were therefore to evaluate the effects of combined compost and mineral fertilizer (MF) application on soil properties, yield, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, and adoption of compost application in maize (Zey mays L.)—potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping systems. Yield data were collected from 20 smallholders applying (i) compost and MF at a total rate of 110 kg N ha⁻¹, with 6 Mg compost ha⁻¹ + MF (6CF), 12 Mg compost ha⁻¹ + MF (12CF), and 16 Mg compost ha⁻¹ + MF (16CF; compost on a fresh weight basis), (ii) MF application of 108 kg N ha⁻¹ (F), and (iii) zero fertilization. Soil from 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths was collected from 16 farms using compost and MF. Compost + MF treatments showed significantly lower soil bulk density and iron contents, while pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity were higher compared to F treatments. The 6CF, 12CF, and 16CF showed 22, 43, and 54% higher maize grain yield and 8, 16, and 18% higher potato tuber yield compared to F, respectively. The scarcity of organic material was a major socioeconomic constraint for smallholders for producing and applying compost.

A tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system, a unique indigenous climate-smart agricultural technology of northwest Ethiopia, is increasingly seen as a promising strategy for improving soil properties. This study investigated the effect of the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system on soil properties. In total, 112 soil samples (7 treatments × 4 depths × 4 replicates) were collected and analyzed inside and outside randomly selected charcoal production spots in the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system and from an adjacent tef monocropping system. The soil properties examined generally exhibited significant variation between the tef monocropping system and the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system, and between soil depths, as well as with respect to charcoal production spots in the system. The system resulted in a significant increase in SOC, TN, available phosphorus, available sodium, available nitrate and ammonium in general, and in total contents of K, P and Mn in the 0–20 cm depth. Charcoal production in the system significantly increased the total content of P, Al, and Fe, as well as the available nitrate and sulfate in the charcoal production spot. The variation in soil proprieties between the land use types and with respect to charcoal production spots in the TACP system were possibly due to the effect of the Acacia decurrens trees, and fire and fine charcoal residues from charcoal production, indicating the capacity of the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system to improve soil properties.

The tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production agroforestry system (TACPA system) is a conventionally and uniquely adopted indigenous potential climate-smart agricultural technology (CSAT) in northwest Ethiopia. This study investigates factors determining farmers’ adoption and intensity of use of the TACPA system using a descriptive statistic and a double-hurdle model. A total of 326 farming household heads were selected using multistage random sampling from two purposively chosen provinces. The descriptive statistics showed that 64.42% of the local farmers adopted the TACPA system, and the area covered by the adopter was 0.38 ha. Empirical estimates of the first hurdle revealed that credit, plot ownership, association, primary road distance, asset, farming experience, labor, family size, livestock, tenure, and marginal land influenced the adoption of the TACPA system. On the other hand, estimates of the second hurdle showed that the intensity of use of the TACPA system was determined by age, plot ownership, nativity, primary road distance use, livestock, tenure, secondary road distance, and experience. The complementarity between the adoption of the TACPA system and its intensity of use suggests the necessity of joint socio-economic policies to meet the priority needs of smallholder farmers of the study area and to disseminate the innovation to other parts of Africa with similar environmental conditions.

Composting organic waste and human excreta could significantly reduce the amount of waste dumped and increase soil fertility and agricultural yields. However, studies focusing on the replacement of mineral fertilizer with compost from these resources are rare. The presented study quantifies the potential of human excreta and other organic waste for compost production. During wet and dry seasons, the generation and composition of household solid waste (HSW) was measured from three wealth categories: poor, medium, and rich, as well as the organic waste generated from 20 commercial facilities. Furthermore, the amount of human excreta, when converting unimproved into ecological sanitation facilities, was assessed. The HSW generation was significantly higher in the wet (0.77 ± 0.07 kg fresh weight (FW) cap⁻¹ day⁻¹) compared to the dry season (0.54 ± 0.04 kg FW cap⁻¹ day⁻¹). Organic waste was the main component of HSW in the dry and wet seasons, accounting for 84% and 76% of the total HSW, respectively. Annually, about 6824 Mg of organic dry matter could be collected from households, 212 Mg from commercial units, and 12,472 Mg from ecological sanitation. With these resources, 11,732 Mg of compost could be produced annually and used for fertilizing 470 ha of farmland, completely replacing mineral fertilizer.

Ecological sanitation via thermophilic composting could be a promising solution to the lack of sanitation and limited access to fertilizers, particularly in developing countries. Here, we conducted a 185‐d thermophilic composting experiment with human excreta, and separately with cattle manure, mixed with kitchen scraps, teff [Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter] straw, sawdust, and biochar (BC) by using an appropriate‐technology approach. We followed the dynamics of the most important macronutrients (N, P, K), temperature, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, as well as content of organic matter, organic C, Ca, Mg, and micronutrients throughout the process. Low N (100% indicated compost maturity and the absence of phytotoxic substances. Biochar addition reduced losses of organic matter (18−23%), C (33−42%), and N (49−100%) and decreased the amount of extractable NO₃⁻ (32−36%) in the final compost. The tested ecological sanitation concept via thermophilic composting is thus a promising strategy to improve access to cheap fertilizer by safe and sustainable sanitation and waste management.

The WoodCluster project (2017-2021) focused on national bio-economies based on farm wood production in East African Countries. The project consortium was a South-South-North network with partners from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Germany. In the project, the dynamics and resulting problems of an increasing wood supply gap, and possible solutions were investigated. The project had two main components: research and teaching. As an output of the teaching component, this trainer manual was developed for wood-based value chain actors in Ethiopia. This trainer manual aims to combine the theory of value chain development with participatory teaching methods and integrate this approach into extensions services linked to wood-based value chain actors in Ethiopia, thereby supporting their sustainable development. It especially intends to provide these trainers with insights into value chain development (VCD) tools and participatory knowledge transfer methods. The focus will be on participatory VCD approaches relevant to wood-based value chain actors. With the trainer manual, officers and trainers will be able to apply participatory VCD trainings to wood-based value chain actors in a Training of Trainers (ToT) session. Since these value chains and actors can vary depending on the regional setting, the raw material or end-product of interest, the defined scope, or the value chain development goals, the ToT will teach several approaches on the basis of which the officers and trainers can design suitable participatory VCD workshops. The trainer manual serves as a reference guide for trainers, who conduct participatory trainings, and extension agents linked to wood-based value chains in Ethiopia. The manual is constructed and arranged in such a way, so that a wide range of trainers with different skill levels and capacities may apply the participatory training in different conditions. Rather than presenting one appropriate teaching method, the manual presents several that allows the trainer to adapt the overall training approach based on the target group and conditions of the training.