Harla Journal of Sustainable Development In Business and Economics

Vertical Price Transmission between Grains and Processed Foods: Does Price Stability in Grains Market Stabilize Prices of Processed Foods?

2024-08-25T08:19:36-08:00

Nowadays, food inflation has become a common phenomenon in Ethiopia. The soaring food price is expected to affect food security of especially poor households. Bread and other prepared foods are among the major food items facing this problem for which demand is higher and consumers are much responsive to the price change, as the situation intends to affect the livelihood of majority of the people. Hence, the aim of this paper is to show the extent to which cereals market is efficiently coordinated with market of bread and other prepared foods, in Addis Ababa. In order to figure out this, secondary data of monthly price series was extracted from Central Statistical Agency for the period from September, 1996 to April, 2012 (having 188 observations). The data was analyzed using Johansen’s and Julius co-integration test, vector error correction model and threshold error correction model coupled with other descriptive approaches. Findings of the study reveals that price of cereals and bread and other prepared foods are co-integrated having simultaneous causality; however, different results were found related to symmetry/asymmetry in price transmission between prices of the two categories of commodities, depending on the period of adjustments. The result shows that there is symmetric price transmission in the long-run implying that policies targeted on stability of prices of grains such as cereals may stabilize prices of processed commodities like bread and other prepared foods, slowly. However, this is not the case if immediate price stability is required in the two markets because there is asymmetric price transmission between the two commodities, in the short- run. Therefore, separate policy measures are recommended if we are interested in immediate (urgent) price stability in the two markets.

The Effect of Revers Logistics Practices on Operational Performance:

2024-08-25T08:37:42-08:00

Reverse logistics is the management of the end life of product globally advantages like improvement of competitiveness, regaining values, positive environmental impact and better image for an organization. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of reverse logistics practices in manufacturing companies (mineral water and Coca cola) companies found in Dire Dawa. To address this study both descriptive and explanatory research design were employed. The current total numbers of employees in both companies are 2613 (Coca Cola bottling company (388) and (Mineral water company (2225) and the researchers took 200 employees as a sample. To achieve the objective of the study, both primary and secondary data source were used. Correlational analysis and multiple linear regressions will also carry out to test the relationship between each variable. Data obtained through questionnaire was analyzed by using descriptive statics: mean and standard deviation supported by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSSversion22) and to come up with statistics that show the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable inferential statistics was used. The major findings indicated that, most of revers logistics practices have significance effect on operational performance. Whereas product repackaging practices has insignificance effect on operational performance. In addition to this most of revers logistics practices are moderately practiced with in the case companies. This study therefore, recommends that reverse logistics practice is very important in developing efficient and effective management of waste products. Therefore, measures to facilitate collection of used packaging and expired products should be instituted within the country. This can be done by having collection points where customers could drop off used containers and expired products.

The Effect of Green Supply Chain Management Practices on Operational Performance:

2024-08-25T08:48:29-08:00

Green supply chain management is defined as a set of practices that are comprised of many activities starting from the generation of ideas and evolving through the design purchasing, logistics, manufacturing, and managing all kinds of waste. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of green supply chain management practices on operational performance a case study of some selected manufacturing firms in Dire Dawa city administration. The researchers used an explanatory research design, both primary and secondary source of data was used to achieve the objective of the study. In this study, close-ended questionnaires were used for data collection procedures from selected respondents. The total populations of the study are 5626 and the researchers took 315 employees as sample respondents. In this study, the purposive sampling technique, both descriptive (mean and standard) and inferential statistics (Pearson and ordinal logistic regression) was used for the data analysis method. The researchers used a statistical package for social science software to analyze descriptive (percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and ordinal logistic regression). The findings of the study imply that green purchasing, eco-design, and green manufacturing practices have a positive and significant effect on operational performance, whereas reverse logistics practice has a positive and insignificant effect on operational performance. Therefore, the researchers would recommend that the companies should give priority to green purchasing practices because green purchasing practices may affect the companies’ performance more than the rest of green supply chain management practices.

Market Chain Analysis of Sesame in Bench Sheko and West Omo Zones, Southwest Ethiopia

2024-08-25T08:58:44-08:00

This study attempted to analyze the market chain analysis of sesame in Bench Sheko and West Omo Zones of the southwest, Ethiopia. The study used both primary and secondary data obtained from survey and desk reviews. A multistage random sampling technique was used to draw 270 sesame producers. Besides, 17 traders were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and econometric models were used to analyze the data. The result from the analysis of the degree of market concentration indicated, that both Biftu and Bachuma markets are tight oligopolistic sesame market types. The highest producers share in sesame market channels was 60.31% in the channel I. The result of econometric regression analysis shows that eight variables namely total livestock unit, sesame farming experience, cooperative membership, family size, land under sesame, annual off-farm income, participation in training, and distance to nearest market significantly affected the market supply of sesame. Based on the study results, the quantity supply of sesame could be enhanced by ought strengthening farmers’ sesame cooperatives, improving farmers’ knowledge through adult education as well as their experience sharing with these same-producing farmers, improving accessibility of transport services and developing infrastructure, improving productivity through strengthening extension service provider and motivating sesame producing farm household to participate different training.

Challenges and opportunities of micro and small enterprises in Dire Dawa City

2024-08-25T09:05:52-08:00

The purpose of this study is to examine the main marketing challenges and opportunities of micro and small enterprises in Dire Dawa City by considering the product, price, promotion, and place as the independent variables and sales turnover as dependent variables. Methodologically the researchers used cross-sectional descriptive study and targeted 548 enterprises grouped as manufacturing, construction, and urban agriculture. From the total target populations 226 enterprises selected based on stratifies sampling methods. Standardized questioners developed and distributed for those selected enterprises and interviews conducted for experts in Dire Dawa Urban Job Creation and Food security agency. Collected data analyzed and interpreted accordingly. The finding of regression analysis indicates that product, Price, and place have a significant effect on micro and small enterprises sales turnover while promotion has an insignificant effect. In addition to this, micro and small enterprises in Dire Dawa City have many opportunities and challenges. Government support and market demand are the major opportunities while lack of coordination among different government offices and lacking of micro and small enterprise owner’s commitment mentioned as a challenge. Therefore, strong coordination among government officials and the owner’s effort on product quality and branding, pricing and distribution enable micro and small enterprise owners to increase their sales turnover.