Assessing economic sustainability and resilience of tomato farming ventures in Addis Ababa: A project-based evaluation.

This study assessed the economic sustainability and contribution of tomato farming ventures to Addis Ababa's resilience. Using a project-based evaluation method, the profitability of tomato production was analyzed with and without the cost of water. The results showed that including the cost of water, the venture had a negative net present value (NPV) of 30100 USD/hectare/annum, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 0.2%, a payback period (PBP) of over ten years, and a cost-benefit ratio (CBR) of 0.83. However, without the cost of water, the venture showed a subtle profit, with an NPV of 15100 USD/hectare/annum, an IRR of 21%, a PBP of 2.9 years, and a CBR of 1.02. Sensitivity analysis revealed that an increase in sales price and yield positively affected profitability, while an increase in operating cost had a negative effect. The study concluded that when water costs are considered, the tomato venture in Addis Ababa is not profitable or sustainable, and does not contribute to the city's resilience. However, without water cost accounting, the venture's contribution to the city's resilience is minimal. The study recommends policy interventions to enhance farmers' access to the market, establish agro-industries, and improve their bargaining power.

Comparative analysis of managing plantation forests: The case of keeping plantation forests for carbon credit and industrial profits in Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Community-based organizations (CBOs) and individuals primarily engaged in forest management dedicated to carbon credit run both at national and regional levels. After a span of time elapsed in the same, CBOs and individuals aspired to shift the carbon-dedicated forest either into log or timber production based on an informed decision. However, there is no study done so which of these projects is financially more useful to them to make an informed decision. The objective of the study is, therefore, to make comparative analyses of plantation forests for carbon credit, round log and timber. The result has revealed that plantation forest managed for timber production is most attractive and rewarding in year 10 and year 15 both with and without discounting at 3%. Plantation forest managed for timber production enables the creation of a fixed asset than both carbon credit and log production. Plantation forests managed for the carbon credit, log production and timber production have externalities both positive and negative which must be considered while calculating the costs and benefits accrued thereof. There are existing and emerging risks associated with the carbon credit project which shifts from natural (forest) to technological abatement of climate change. The study is critical to understanding the benefits of future plantation forest investment. We, thus, conclude forest managed for timber production is financially more useful for CBOs and individuals than round log and carbon credit. We recommend CBOs and individuals to have adequate information on benefits and risks associated with plantation forests managed for carbon credit, round log and timber production before engaging in the investment.

Users' preferences and perceptions towards urban green spaces in rapidly urbanized cities: The case of Debre Berhan and Debre Markos, Ethiopia.

Urban green spaces are essential elements of cities that play an important role in urban sustainability and human health. This study analyzed the users' preferences and perceptions towards urban green spaces. A total of five parks were purposively selected from Debre Berhan and Debre Markos cities. A questionnaire survey was administered to 350 park users in both cities. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and the independence of variables was tested using a chi-square test using IBM SPSS 20. The chi2 test shows that visits' purpose depended on the users' age, gender, and education level (P < 0.05). 26.1% and 13.8% of the users visit the parks "always" to chill with friends and to enjoy nature, respectively. The existence of fences, safety and security, and spaciousness of the park were the major encouraging factors, with the average Likert value of 3.04, 3.01, and 2.72, respectively. Alcoholic drinks and chewing Khat (stimulant green leafy plant) within the parks, lack of comfortable sitting areas, absence of safety and security, and improper park management were the main discouraging factors. There was a very strong statistical association between perceptions of users to the benefits of green spaces and occupation (χ2 (95, N = 350) = 158.908, p < 0.001), age (χ2 (76, N = 350) = 175.135, p < 0.001), gender (χ2 (19, N = 350) = 68.226, p < 0.001), and education level (χ2 (114, N = 350) = 240.798, p < 0.001). The "highly" perceived benefits of green spaces were recreational, aesthetic, and pollution protection. 50% of the respondents "never" participated in any green space development activities. Therefore, rapidly urbanized cities in Africa and Asia could take a lesson from this study about the importance of incorporating citizens' preferences for green spaces and public participation in urban green space development and management.

Analysis of land suitability for apple-based agroforestry farming in Dire and Legedadi watersheds of Ethiopia: implication for ecosystem services.

This study was conducted to evaluate land suitability for apple farming in the Dire and Legedadi watersheds of the central highlands of Ethiopia. Attributes that determine apple growth were categorized into environmental, soil, climate, and land management factors. The land evaluation methodology developed by FAO (1976) was applied in six steps. First, nine thematic layers are prepared. Second, pair-wise comparison matrices were performed using AHP. Third, thematic layers are reclassified. Forth, weights are assigned to each class. Fifth, weighted overlay analysis was performed to produce a land suitability map. Finally, the land suitability map was classified into high, moderate, marginally suitable, and unsuitable categories. Soil type received the highest weight of 1.98 followed by elevation and LULC of 1.51 each. The mean temperature, rainfall, soil pH, and soil drainage weight were 1.41, 0.94, 0.56, and 0.52 respectively. Whereas the slope and aspect weighted the lowest at 0.38 and 0.19 respectively. Out of the total area of the watersheds, about 14 km2 (6.7%) and 12.34 km2 (13.1%) are highly suitable for apple farming in the Legedadi and Dire watersheds respectively. Whereas, about 113.35 km2 (53.8%) and 42.54 km2 (45.2%) of land are not suitable in the Legedadi and Dire watersheds respectively. Landholders who play a pivotal role should be incentivized to grow perennial crops (e.g., apple-trees) to enhance environmental income and alleviate poverty.