Achievements and gaps in tef productivity improvement practices in the marginal areas of Northern Ethiopia: implications for future research directions

Tef is the most important crop in Ethiopia and is well-adapted to growing environments, but grain yields are low. The government is therefore promoting the adoption of improved varieties, inorganic fertilizers and new planting techniques. This study gathered information on the use of new agronomic practices and barriers to their adoption through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 60 farmers or respondents from each of 4 districts of Tigray region in northern Ethiopia viz Laelay-Maichew, Medebay-Zana, Ahferom and Alamata. Data were coded and analysed using SPSS software. Except for animal feed and crop rotation, there were significant differences between districts in the relative importance of several criteria for different uses. Improved varieties were used by the majority of respondents in all districts and fertilizers in all except Alamata where severe moisture stress dictated the choice of variety and reduced fertilizer application. Weed control was mainly by hand except in Alamata where chemical control was common because of the predominance of broad-leaved weeds. Transplanting maximized the yield of tef, but a cost–benefit analysis showed that row sowing was more profitable. The study concluded that new varieties better adapted to the likelihood of reduced rainfall and that respond efficiently to fertilizer inputs need to be developed. Until suitable technologies are available, high labour costs would in part dictate some agronomic practices, even if this led to lower yields.     

Assessment of university campus café service: The students' perceptions

This paper presents the results of a study conducted to examine the important attributes in food service provision on a large Australian university campus. Ten café outlets (A to J to maintain anonymity of the café outlets) positioned across a large university campus located in an urban residential area were surveyed. A total of 410 students participated in the survey. Based on the frequency of patronage to the cafés results showed that five of the ten café outlets were more frequently visited in a given week. These were Café A, Café B, Café H, Café F, and Café I; however, the focus of this paper would be on Café A, which was just recently opened for business. Results indicated that students considered quality, price and service as the most important attributes in patronizing a particular café on campus. Results also indicated that students were most satisfied with important attributes such as convenience, ambience and quality during their visit to the café. Paired samples' t-test results showed statistically significant differences between the perceived importance and level of satisfaction with all attributes except the opening hours attribute. Results are discussed with possible implications and suggestions for further research.     

中国和埃塞俄比亚双边贸易:机遇与挑战

随着同中国双边贸易关系的不断发展,埃塞俄比亚的经济开始面临新的机遇和挑战。本文通过研究中国同埃塞俄比亚的贸易状况以及贸易发展趋势,对埃塞俄比亚所面临的新的机遇和挑战进行了深入的分析,并提出了鼓励中国投资者投资于埃塞俄比亚的出口行业,加强两国投资合作的应对策略。     

Gift Giving: An Exploratory Behavioural Study

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the marketing literature through an exploratory review of gift giving behaviour as it pertains to cultural and other demographical variables. Following Mathur's (1996, Psychology & Marketing, 13(1), 107–123) recommendation that future research into gift giving might examine differences among different subgroups in the population, this study closely examined gender differences to identify variables that matter most for female and male gift givers/receivers. Results indicate that 80.7% of respondents had bought a gift within the previous 6 months, mostly for personal reasons (95.4%), which included occasions such as birthdays (64.9%), anniversaries (11.2%), achievement celebrations (10.3%), Father's/Mother's Day (5.0%) and Christmas (1.7%). About 50% of respondents spent between A$10 and A$30 per gift purchase. The results are discussed. Following a comprehensive review of the available literature, the authors set out to formulate a research instrument that would explore respondents' gift giving-related behaviour in terms of the occasion for gift exchange, the relationship between giver and receiver and the range of values that may come into play when engaging in gift giving transactions. Three hundred questionnaires from students at a major Western Australian university were the bases of this report. Of these, 80% reported purchasing a gift in the past 6 months mainly for a family member as a birthday gift, spending A$44 on average. The results revealed that women have a higher perception of gift giving as a valuable opportunity to state relational bonds compared with men. The results also suggested that individuals find it easier to purchase a gift for someone of their same gender, as opposed to someone of the opposite sex. Overall, students from Asia seemed to have a statistically significant difference from Australians and those born elsewhere with respect to their perception of a gift's cost-value, the reciprocity principle and re-gifting practices. This research focused on individuals who frequented a major Western Australian university, thus influencing the age range of the respondents. Future research is encouraged in order to incorporate a greater number of responses and variability in the sample that could allow for an analysis of individuals' opinions about gift giving activities as they relate to their generation. The findings suggest the need to give greater attention to cohort analysis of gift giving behaviour. Matters such as the nature of the relationship between the giver and the recipient, the occasion and the recipient's gender were of primary importance when selecting a gift. This finding may assist marketers' targeting efforts by clarifying what factors consumers tend to consider when purchasing a present. Gender implications also revealed the need to assist individuals in identifying what constitutes an “ideal” gift for a woman or a man. Finally, those residing in Australia tended to find it more difficult to purchase gifts for women than those who reside in Asian countries. This suggests the need to explore acculturation and culture shock notions when it comes to gift giving behaviour. This research incorporated in an exploratory nature those aspects that seemed of greater interest for academics and practitioners, such as gift giving occasion, behaviour, values, and demographical variables such as country of birth and country of residence.