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This paper aims at investigating how the supply network structure in which dairy farms are embedded influences their technology adoption. In order to consider the effects of network structure embeddedness on technology adoption, farm-level data were collected from 169 randomly selected dairy farms. Social network analysis was used to develop the structural characteristics and Poisson regression model was used to evaluate the influence of the network on technology adoption. The results indicate that the supply network interconnectedness increases farm’s adoption of dairy technology while the supply network density decreases the likelihood of the adoption of dairy technology. Furthermore, the study shows the absorptive capacity positively moderates the effect of supply network accessibility on the likelihood of adoption of dairy technology in dairy farms. This study provides useful insights into the potential role of supply network structural characteristics and the moderating role of absorptive capacity on dairy technology adoption. Thus, in light of these findings, considerations should be given to policies that create an ecosystem of interactions through training, promoting fairs and innovation events to promote rapid dairy technology adoption by dairy farms.

Research background: Participatory Forest Management program (PFMP) is initiated to manage forest resources and promote household participation to enhance their livelihood. In contrast, the long-term evaluation of many programs' timing remains low attention. Thus, it is vital to measure livelihood impacts on membership duration associated with the PFM program in Ethiopian farm households Purpose of the article: To evaluate the impact of membership duration in participatory forest management on livelihoods of program participating households in south-western Ethiopia. The results of the program's periodic assessment data were analysed on the long-term effect of the activities of forest management members. Methods: The study applied the generalized propensity score method. The research depends on cross-sectional survey data collected in mid-2018 from 267 farm households from Sheka and Kafa zones of south-western Ethiopia. The procedure matched families with similar covariates with different years of membership duration in the participatory forest management program. The technique was used members' annual per capita expenditure as an indicator outcome variable for measuring rural livelihood. Findings, value-added & novelty: Impacts studies of PFMP on heterogeneous effects across different groups of membership duration are scarce, and there is a research gap on how membership duration affects outcomes. Our study addresses this gap by measuring the long-term evaluation of program outcomes and their impacts on the participatory member households. Furthermore, the result revealed that the program's effects were initially low but positively affected when approaching an optimum year of membership dose. The program's optimal duration of the membership dose was 11-12 years, and 4263.75 birrs were the optimal level of yearly household per capita consumption spending. Recommendation: The results recommend more work on the participating household members by encouraging new forest-related income sources and integrating the socio-economic network more closely with the forest's ecosystem services. Although the relationship among participating members of households' longevity and income is substantial, the program has been focused on the medium and longer duration of the forest program participating., doi: 10.15414/raae.2022.25.01.13-29 ; https://roaae.org/issue/review-of-agricultural-and-applied-economics-raae-vol-25-no-1-2022/?article=evaluating-membership-duration-in-the-participatory-forest-management-on-livelihood-in-ethiopia-a-generalized-propensity-score-approach

Research background: There is higher level of mistrust between vegetable farmers and intermediaries in vegetable market transaction in Eastern Ethiopia. This mistrust adversely affected farmers’ livelihood which largely depended on the agriculture sector. Hence understanding factors that affect trust of farmers for intermediaries is essential. Purpose of the article: The purpose of this study is to analyse the factors determining vegetable farmers trust for intermediaries using cross sectional data collected from vegetable farmers in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Multistage sampling was used to select 385 households for the study. The collected data were analysed using partial least square path modelling procedure. Findings and value added: The empirical results indicated that relational investment, collaborative communication, and flexibility positively influenced trust. Moreover, collaborative communication and flexibility also positively influenced relational satisfaction. However, relational investment negatively affected opportunism. Recommendation: Intermediaries should use effective communication to improve farmers trust and relational satisfaction. They should also engage in relational investment by giving assistance and advice as this could contribute to enhancement of trust and reduction of opportunism. Intermediaries need to also attract farmers by offering satisfactory price and demonstrating flexibility where it is necessary., doi: 10.15414/raae.2021.24.01.64-75; https://roaae.org/issue/review-of-agricultural-and-applied-economics-raae-vol-24-no-1-2021/?article=factors-determining-the-trust-of-vegetable-farmers-for-intermediaries-in-eastern-ethiopia

Research background: In the current competitive agricultural market, where substantial capital investment is required to pursue growth related competitive strategies, agricultural cooperatives��� performance mainly relies on members��� willingness to contribute equity capital. Members are the single and most important source of investment capital. Purpose of the article: This study investigated factors influencing members��� willingness to contribute equity capital to their agricultural cooperatives in Ethiopia with the intention of providing empirical evidences to decision makers with regard to specific measures to be taken to enhance members��� willingness to contribute equity capital, and thereby improve agricultural cooperatives��� performance. Methods: Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select the study districts, farmer associations, agricultural cooperatives and respondent households. Semi-structured questionnaire was employed to collect cross-sectional data from randomly selected 214 households. The data were analysed using binary logistic regression model. Findings & value added: We found that education level; past role as a committee member; trust on other members��� commitment and directors��� leadership ��� influence positively and significantly members��� willingness to contribute equity capital. While age and perception on the cooperatives��� weaknesses affect negatively and significantly members��� willingness. The important policy recommendations are developing and fostering trust among members and between members and directors; re-orienting service provisions in line with the needs and interests of their members; assessing agricultural cooperatives��� performance depending on the values that their members expect to obtain from membership. This study investigated the influence of trust on members��� willingness to contribute equity capital, and hence will add value to better understanding of the role of trust in enhancing members��� commitment in cooperative organizations. Lastly, this cross-sectional survey study subjected to limitations associated with this type of study. Hence the generalizability of its results to other areas of agricultural cooperatives needs further investigation., doi: 10.15414/raae.2021.24.02.50-61; https://roaae.org/issue/review-of-agricultural-and-applied-economics-raae-vol-24-no-2-2021/?article=what-factors-are-influencing-members-willingness-to-contribute-equity-capital-in-agricultural-cooperatives