American Journal of Trade and Policy

62-70

Authors: Eyayu Tesfaye

Despite the critical importance of agriculture in SSA countries; there are constraints behind, between, and beyond the border that directly and indirectly affects agricultural export performance of these countries. This paper attempts to explain theoretically and assess empirically the demand and the supply side factors affecting agricultural export of SSA countries. Specifically, the study focuses on analyzing the relative importance of the two major factors in determining the countries agricultural export performance. Panel data set with fixed effects estimation technique is used to address the question. The data set covers 47 SSA countries over the periods 2000-2008.The estimation result shows that on the supply side, factors such as real GDP, real GDP (lagged) of exporting country and lagged agricultural input use positively and significantly affects agricultural export of the SSA countries. The study also indicates that on the demand side the effect of per capita GDP of US, the major trading partner of SSA countries, is positive and significant. Moreover, the effect of US import tariff imposed on agricultural products from SSA countries is negative and significant. Therefore, the overall result reiterates that both supply side and demand side factors are equally important in determining agricultural export performance of SSA countries.

74-78

Authors: Birhanu Amare, Fetien Abay, Yemane Tsehaye

Seven sweet potato varieties (Bellela, Kabode, Kulfo, LO, Temesgen, Tulla and Vitae) were tested in southern and eastern zones of Tigra, Ethiopiay in 2012 to evaluate their total root yield potential. Randomized complete block design with three replications was used for the experiment Yield data was analyzed using combined ordinary analysis of variance and the additive main effect and multiplication interaction effect model (AMMI). The combined analysis of variance across locations showed significant variation among genotypes, locations and the genotypes by locations interaction for the total storage root yield (t/ha). Based on this, the superior mean total root yield (26.82 t/ha) was obtained at Kukufto testing location while the inferior (13.45 t/ha) was at Rarhe. Similarly, among the genotypes, LO gave the highest mean total root yield (30.9 t/ha), while bellela gave the lowest (7.78 t/ha). The AMMI analysis for the total storage root yield also showed highly significant difference for genotypes, locations and the genotypes by locations interaction components The contribution of genotype, location and genotype by location interaction to the total variation in root yield was about 54.1%, 21.4% and 19.4%, respectively. The genotype main effect contributed more to the total variability indicating that the variation was largely due to the inheritance of genotype effect. The genotype by location interaction was further partitioned using AMMI model and the first two principal components explained 100% of the total variability. The model captured 83.4 % of the interaction sum of squares with the first Interaction Principle Component Axis (IPCA) (in 58.3% of the interaction degrees of freedom) and 16.6% by the second IPCA axis (with 41.7% of the G x E d.f). AMMI biplot view of this study identified kukufto as best testing location and LO, Tulla and Kulfo as best genotypes for south and south east zones of Tigray region.

85-93

Authors: Amitav Saha, K.M Sabbir Hasan, Md. Salah Uddin

With the economic intensification of a country is on accelerating mode, role of banking industry is also important in this growth. In a hyper-competitive market all commercial banks inBangladeshare faced with challenges of retaining the existing and attracting new customers. The aim of the research is to take the opinions of different peoples in Rajshahi city, Bangladesh about the service quality in different commercial banks. Samples of 51 customers who have their bank account with different commercial banks having operations in Rajshahi city are selected on convenience basis. This paper presents an original survey in the banking sector of Rajshahi City, Bangladesh. To achieve the main goal of the research, the authors of the paper developed questionnaire designed for bank clients. After going for long analysis we have found that five factors playing important role in order to make customer happy regarding the banking services. Therefore, customer satisfaction is the key for many banks to stay alive in competition.