Debre Markos University

Access to improved water and sanitation (WaTSAN) is essential for public health and sustainable development. This study examines trends, determinants, and socio-economic inequalities in WaTSAN access in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2019, and provides projections for 2025–2030 to inform Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). A cross-sectional study was conducted using Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data from 55,736 households, with a stratified two-stage cluster sampling Technique. Multivariate decomposition and Wagstaff analysis were used to examine socioeconomic disparities in WaTSAN access, accounting for income, education, and geographic variation. Future projections employed both linear and logistic growth models with sensitivity analyses to account for methodological uncertainty. The proportion of households using improved WaTSAN sources increased from 4.66% in 2005 to 16.62% in 2019. The decomposition results show that 57.75% of the overall increase in the proportion of households using improved WaTSAN sources was due to Endowment (differences in the compositional characteristics of respondents), while 42.25% was due to Coefficient (the effect of independent variables). The Wagstaff index revealed pronounced inequalities, favoring wealthier households (0.335 [95% CI 0.2898, 0.381]) and those headed by individuals with higher education (0.1387 [95% CI 0.1047, 0.1727]). Regional and rural–urban disparities remain significant, particularly among communities with limited media exposure. Projections indicate that improved water coverage may reach 69–73% by 2030, though with substantial uncertainty (95% CIs 20–126% for the linear model, 35–100% for the logistic model). While Ethiopia has made progress in expanding WaTSAN access, significant socioeconomic and geographic disparities persist. Targeted policies, poverty reduction strategies, and increased media exposure are crucial for achieving equitable access. Projections suggest accelerated interventions are needed to achieve SDG 6 targets by 2030. The considerable uncertainty in long-term forecasts highlights the need for frequent monitoring and adaptive policy responses.

Evaluating cholesterol and quality parameters indicates edible oil quality and compliance with health standards. This study analyzed cholesterol in branded and non-branded oils from East and West Gojjam and Debre Markos markets using the Liebermann-Burchard method with UV-visible spectrophotometry at 640 nm. All vegetable oils, except those from Finoteselam town, contained detectable cholesterol, ranging from 37.19±0.03 to 87.36±0.40 mg/L. Cholesterol detected in vegetable oils suggests poor processing or adulteration. Simple analytical methods limited precision, but measured levels were below permissible limits, indicating low potential risk of heart disease. The physicochemical parameters measured include moisture (0.06-1.35%), density (0.868-0.892 mg/mL), acid value (0.28-4.16 mg KOH/g of oil), peroxide value (1.47-7.88 meq O2/kg), and saponification value (52.42-210.97 mg KOH/g). Oil from Mota town exhibited the highest moisture content, and all samples had elevated acid values, likely due to poor handling and storage. Branded oils generally had lower saponification values than unbranded oils, with Bichena, Debre Markos (Biabil), Dembecha, and Finote Selam towns exceeding the maximum permissible limit. The findings highlight the importance of proper oil production, storage, and quality control to ensure consumer health and safety.

Smallholder coffee-based agroforestry play an important role in conserving woody species and supporting broader ecosystem functions. Nevertheless, their contribution to woody species conservation has been insufficiently studied. The current study was therefore conducted to evaluate the contributions of smallholder coffee-based agroforestry for woody species conservations, compositions, management as compared to adjacent fragmented forests. Vegetation survey data were collected from 54 plots in smallholder coffee-based agroforestry and adjacent forests using 20 m × 20 m plots. Additionally, structured questionnaires were administered to 54 households to capture local knowledge and woody species management strategies. Results revealed that a total of 53 woody species representing 16 families were recorded and smallholder coffee-based agroforestry retained significantly (P < 0.05) 56% of forest species richness, 60–70% of diversity indices, and 84% of stem density. Shannon diversity was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in smallholder coffee-based agroforestry (1.55 ± 0.24) than in forests (2.55 ± 0.34), while evenness was higher in coffee-based agroforestry (0.94 ± 0.03 vs. 0.74 ± 0.06), indicating a more uniform distribution of retained species. Basal area was significantly higher in smallholder coffee-based agroforestry (10.89 ± 5.57 m2 ha⁻1) compared to forests (8.45 ± 3.47 m2 ha⁻1, P < 0.05), reflecting the retention of larger trees. Household interviews and key informant discussions confirmed that farmers actively manage and retain multifunctional shade trees—particularly for coffee shade (100%), income generation (91.4%), and soil fertility enhancement (80.65%). Management practices were dominated by pruning (88.9%), thinning (50%), hoeing (100%), and weeding (100%). The study concludes that smallholder coffee-based agroforestry act as secondary habitats and biodiversity reservoirs, complementing natural forests in landscape-level conservation. Farmer centered incentives could further maximize their conservation potential, ensuring that these agroforestry systems continue to support ecological sustainability while simultaneously improving rural livelihoods.

Synthetic pesticides are widely used in Ethiopian agriculture to reduce crop losses caused by pests and diseases. However, limited knowledge, unsafe handling practices, and weak regulatory enforcement increase health and environmental risks, particularly among smallholder farmers. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 smallholder farmers in the Awi and West Gojjam Zones using multistage random sampling. Data were collected via structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and on-site observations. Farmers’ perceptions were assessed using the Health Belief Model (HBM), including perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and cues to action. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests evaluated associations between perceptions and sociodemographic factors. Most respondents were male (92.4%) with primary education or less (87.7%). Over 70% applied pesticides more than twice per year, yet only 4.1% practiced integrated pest management. Unsafe practices were prevalent, including storing pesticides inside living spaces (57.6%), non-use of personal protective equipment during application (88.4%), and reuse of empty containers for domestic purposes (59%). Farmers’ perceived susceptibility and severity were low: 76.6% did not associate pesticide exposure with adverse health effects, and 89.5% expressed minimal concern for environmental impacts. Perception of risk was significantly associated with sex, education, and household income (p < 0.05). Farmers in northwest Ethiopia heavily rely on synthetic pesticides while engaging in unsafe practices and demonstrating low risk perception. Integrated interventions are urgently needed, including HBM-informed safety training, promotion of integrated pest management, and stronger regulation of highly hazardous pesticides. Targeted action is particularly needed to protect vulnerable groups, including women and children, and to safeguard human and environmental health.

Abstract This article was conducted to leverage Indigenous Knowledge for a Successful National Dialogue in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the role of indigenous knowledge in enhancing successful national dialogue in Ethiopia. This paper finds that indigenous knowledge systems in Ethiopia, such as the Amhara Shimiglina, Sidama Luwas, Oromo Gadda system, Tigray elders' council, Gedeo Gadda system, and other indigenous knowledge systems, play a decisive role in a successful national dialogue. These lessons can inform Ethiopia’s National Dialogue and enhance its effectiveness, inclusivity, and cultural relevance. By exhausting and implementing indigenous knowledge, Ethiopia can unlock the full potential of indigenous knowledge to achieve a successful and inclusive national dialogue.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a globally important legume crop, the yield and quality traits are governed by complex polygenic interactions that are difficult to resolve using conventional biparental populations or natural association panels, particularly given the crop’s narrow cultivated gene pool. Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) populations have emerged as a powerful alternative, combining structured recombination with high allelic diversity to enable high-resolution dissection of complex traits. This review synthesizes recent progress and emerging directions in peanut MAGIC research, highlighting five key frontiers: pan-genome-informed founder selection; multi-environment MAGIC for genotype-by-environment (G × E) dissection; systems genetics integration of multi-omics data; introgression MAGIC to incorporate wild Arachis diversity; and AI-guided simulation for optimized population design. By integrating genomics, multi-omics phenotyping, and artificial intelligence, MAGIC populations provide a high-resolution platform for precision breeding and the development of climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally enhanced peanut cultivars. Beyond trait discovery, this integration enables a shift from descriptive genetic mapping toward predictive and systems-level breeding, in which allelic effects can be evaluated across environments, genetic backgrounds, and management scenarios. Future progress will therefore depend on translating MAGIC-derived insights into subgenome-aware selection strategies, environment-informed genomic prediction models, and shared breeding resources that support sustainable and coordinated peanut improvement under increasing climatic and production constraints.