My Life had stood †a Loaded Gun Essay

Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun† is a powerful poem that takes into account various thematic expressions. Its comprehensiveness in brevity is another essential feature of this poem. It symbolizes power and unconventional feminist urges on the art of the poetess. In this poem, Emily Dickinson finds an instrument adequate enough to render her need for fulfillment through absolute commitment to love’s service. The poem begins with a brilliant conceit. Fused from the ambiguous abstraction of life and the explicit concretion of loaded gun, it expresses the charged potential of the human being who remains dormant until â€Å"identified† into a conscious vitality. And after hat identification, we observe the start of a new poem i. e. the start of a new life. Historically, it was written in age when American society was torn with civil war. The symbol that Emily Dickenson has used is an essence of an experience. It is quite obvious that a universal insight that the poet tries to express in not obtained merely by imaginative wandering, it is based on concrete experiences. Emily Dickinson presents the same insight into the historical experiences of her time. The very first stanza symbolizes the paradox of finding oneself through losing oneself. It is rendered in the poem by one word: identity is claimed when someone claimed the gun as her own. The American civil war was also the process of finding ones own identity by losing ones own identity. The internal rivalries and petty identities were to be removed to achieve a national reconciliation. This national reconciliation ultimately brought the national identity. Although this process was on halt and stayed â€Å"in corners† for many decades till a day came. Now they â€Å"roam in Sovereign Woods†. So Emily Dickinson has epitomized a national experience. Now this â€Å"gun† is â€Å"foe of His – I’m deadly foe†. â€Å"His can be described in various connotations. â€Å"His† is emblem of nation state that is fully sovereign. â€Å"His† is an integrated society or the one who longs to be integrated after the pathos and miseries of Civil war. Poetess further emphasize that â€Å"None stir the second time -/ whom I lay a Yellow Eye -/ an emphatic Thumb†. All these gestures are for those who are internal or external antagonists to the new national experience. This poem has also captivated the feminist attention who has given it a new evaluative dimension. Some critics are of the view that thorough this poem, Emily has tried to present a woman that she was not primarily in the second half of the 19th century whereas other feminist critics holds the view that poem totally negates the feminine qualities and the main metaphor considers â€Å"everything [that]†woman† is not: cruel not pleasant, hard not soft, emphatic not weak, one who kills not one who nurtures. † (Bennet, 1986) But Emily Dickinson has provided a framework of power i. e. feminine power and established certain pattern on which women power can grow and has shown certain direction where women power can direct itself. It must be kept in mind that all the action verbs in the poem are not destructive or of insidious nature. It expresses powers to â€Å"hunt† â€Å"speak† â€Å"smile† â€Å"guard† and â€Å"kill†. So this power has paradoxical nature and a balance mix of these powers is necessary as shown and done by Emily Dickinson. Furthermore, Miss Dickinson does show a longing for deadliness but in actuality it is only for safeguarding. Wrath is a part of her being but she does not let it go if not invoked or incited. So her aggression and anger and the consequences as a result of it (killing and deaths) are not unwomanly but are an extension of her very personality. These feelings are not uncommon but are surely unpredictable. In the second half of the poem, she is only providing guard to one who has helped her to get rid of her alienation and had blessed her with intimacy. Here Emily Dickinson seems conventional in her feminist approach that a woman can do everything unwomanly for the one who is her companion in true sense of the word. Christine Miller (1987) says in this regard that â€Å"In the second instance, the speaker prefers guarding the master to having shared his pillow, that is, to having shared intimacy with him–primarily sexual, one would guess from the general structure of the poem. † On the other hand, this poem expresses the agonies of a female poet that was restricted by her family and society to a narrow life devoid of any intellectual and/or literary independence. These social and familial compulsion produced rashness in Emily’s attitude. She was forced to produce art in seclusion and to it keep to herself only. So language becomes her only mean and tool to bear the torments of her intellectual beings. She embodies language as gun and is of the view that this loaded gun accompanied with her literary beings is fatal for socio-cultural compulsion against women. It provided her a sense of power and control. She further eulogizes language and considers it a safeguard to her literary being. And her language is enemy to al those traditions, norms, people and things who are against her poetical endeavors. This poem can further illustrate the conflicts between two classes with their interest. Although this conflict is not materialistic or monetary but it exists in the socio-cultural domain. One class adheres to the conventions and does not allow female members to express their view on any issue especially in the form of poetry whereas other lass are comprised of the intellectual beings who consider it their right to create and disseminate their thoughts and ideas in the literary form. This poem symbolizes the struggle of the latter class and demonstrates that they are more powerful than the convention-ridden society. The poem starts with an individual quest for his/her identity but it changed into a capitalized â€Å"We†. Now the concern of the poetess is no more individualistic and sentimental, rather it has been transformed into something collective, societal and concrete. The identities have been mingled up with each other. Both owner and the â€Å"owned† perform the same masculine activities. They are no more individual but become a part of the larger whole i. e. society. Overall the poem captures a variety of themes through various thematic expressions. Although the conclusion is disturbing but it has relevance to the thematic expressions as it tries to resolve the problem initiated in the first half. Powerlessness or even fear of that is death to the poetess has no other option but â€Å"to die† without powerlessness. Last stanza is not a moralistic commentary but is identification of a wider truth. Bennett, Paula. My Life a Loaded Gun: Dickinson, Plath, Rich, and Female Creativity. Boston: Beacon Press. 1986. Gilbert, Sandra M & Gubar, Susan. The madwoman in the attic: the woman writer and the nineteenth-century literary imagination. New Haven: Yale University Press. 1979. Miller, Christanne. Emily Dickinson, a poet’s grammar. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press. 1987. Smith, Martha Nell & Loeffelholz, Mary. A companion to Emily Dickinson. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pubishers. 2008.

Maintaining Job Descriptions

Writing and updating Job Descriptions is very important for the employer and the candidate. It allows the candidate to decide if the skills they have match the position they are contemplating on applying for. For the employer it helps them to get a clear picture of the ideal candidate and give their expectations for the candidate they are searching for. Companies undergo expansion, restructuring, downsizing and relocating, those things cause changes within the company such as departments and teams changing and business priorities. The reason we update and rewrite job descriptions is so that employees do not assume what to do on the job but know what to do. The employer needs for the job description to specifically state what is expected, such as travel, management, full time, part time and shift work. A Job description also helps the employer determine who can follow directions, and they also aid in evaluations, raises and promotions. Job descriptions are also an important part of the Benefits Specialist’s Job. They are also very essential in the development and implementation of Human Resource programs. When applying for a job always remember that a Job Description is a legal binding document and can be used as evidence in hiring disputes and labor negotiations. (Subramaniam, 2009) Whenever the job functions of an employee changes it is very important that their job description changes also. (Subramaniam, 2009) You cannot successfully manage performance by the use of outdated job descriptions that do not list the real functions of the job. Subramaniam, 2009) Many organizations in the past overlooked the importance of updating Job Descriptions but after several lawsuits I believe that a lot of companies today are a lot more careful in not just updating but in writing them and having them looked at and handled by qualified Human Resource personnel. Outline a process that will yield a set of thorough, current job descriptions. The process that I think will yield a set of thorough, current job descriptions would to first determine the needs of the company. This may ean getting with the decision makers to compare the responsibilities of current staff and to compare the responsibilities and competencies of current staff against all existing and possible needs. By doing this you can identify the gaps and consider looking at current employees who can be moved into need roles in place of looking to hire. (Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process) Gather information from your staff to help in the process ask them what they think you should be looking for or asking. The second step would be to start writing your Job Description and Job Posting. The job description document will list the responsibilities and qualification of the job. This will be used by the hiring managers to evaluate the candidates and by the position manager to set expectations for the new hire and for the evaluations and performance reviews. (Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process) Next would be to develop a recruitment plan, you can first start by Internal Distribution: this will allow current employee the opportunity to apply for the position if interested. And second they are the key source of referrals for any new positions. Next would be Distribution by net working this would be to send the announcement to friends, peer groups community partners etc. This will help in spreading the work of the position. Last would be External Posting, this would be online adds, news papers and even just posting the job on boards in different businesses like grocery chains. Your final stage would be setting up a screening process to view each applicant and make a decision. Be sure that everyone who is making a hiring decision is on the same page. You can start by deciding what information you want to view and how you want to obtain the information you are looking for. Three common stages of a screening process are Resume Screening, Phone Screening and Interviews. Before you view any resume decide what information you want to know from the resume and look at your job description and come up with a list of criteria, This will aide you in coming up with a Resume Screening Worksheet. Next would be a phone screening, sometimes it is hard to decide from a resume so you can come up with a few questions and do a phone interview. If after doing a Resume Screen and a Phone Screen your are still not satisfied then you can do an Interview. The in person interview allows you to fish for information that you did not gather during the resume and phone screen. Recommend a process to be used in the future for periodically reviewing and updating the new job descriptions. The process that I recommend be followed in keeping your job descriptions updated is to first let your employees know that their positions descriptions are subject to changes and that they know the difference between job description and position description. Because with is not in your job description could be in your position description. When discussing performance appraisals review your employee’s job description and discuss it with them to make sure that they haven’t acquired some extra duty that needs to be placed in their job description. You can also make sure to review the job descriptions once someone has left that position then before you rush to place an announcement for the position review the job description and make any changes need. Works Cited Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2011, from Common Good Careers: www.cgcareers.org Subramaniam, S. A.-M. (2009). A Review of the Need for Writing and Updating Job Descriptions for 21st Century Organizations. Retrieved April 25, 2011, from European Journal of Social Sciences-Volume 12, Number 2 (2009): www.eurojournals.com/ejss

Project Proposal Hypertension in Saudi Arabia Research

Project Hypertension in Saudi Arabia - Research Proposal Example Thus for adequate health promotion, community participation, development of skills, supportive environments, health public policy and reorienting services are very essentiation. Of these, community participation plays a major role in the prevention, early detection and management of any disease. In this essay, the role of community participation in prevention and management of hypertension will be discussed in an effort to gain funds for accomplishment of project related to development and establishment of community awareness and community participation in hypertension, with intentions to decrease the incidence and prevalence of the disease and also reduce mortality and morbidity related to it. The main aim of this project is to enhance the knowlege of all Saudis above 30 years of age about the benefits of early detection and appropriate management of hypertension and thereby allowing the community to take part in various aspecting of decision-making in health care and services pertaining to health care. The objectives are: "Active involvement of people from communities preparing for, or reacting to, disasters" is known as community participation. "Involvement of the people concerned in analysis, decision-making, planning, and programme implementation, as well as in all the activities" is known as true participation. The WHO suggests community participation as one of the means of health promotion. Infact, one of the goals of primary health care movement is community participation at various levels of decision making in health like planning, evaluation and management of health services and also ones health. Community participation involves increasing the knowledge and awareness of the community pertaining to the pro grammes and projects concerned to the disease, empowerment of the people to exercise control in the process of decision-making

Study plan (essay) for studying abroad application Essay

Study plan ( ) for studying abroad application - Essay Example I anticipate to study international law, environmental economics, global environmental system, and introduction to environmental science. These subjects will broaden my knowledge in global environment and prepare me for future career as an environment professional at UNEP, which is my dream career. According to Stanley (2004, pp31-32), international law entails a variety of treaties and traditions, which control the conduct of sovereign states among themselves and people who trade or have legal relationships that involve the jurisdiction of more than one state. Since my future dream is to work with UNEP, studies in environmental economics, global environmental system and international law will equip me with necessary knowledge and skills to work in the international organization. In my academic sojourn in Korea, I intend to finally specialize in environmental science and international law. By studying these courses, I want to achieve knowledge on how environmental issues are dealt with not only in Korea but also globally. Currently, the world is facing a myriad of environmental challenges, such as climatic change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, emission of harmful substances to the environment in addition to improper utilization of natural resources (United Nations Environment Programme, 2004, p14). I intend to enroll in the college of law, technology and in college of science at Korea University. At the college of law, I aspire to study courses in international and environmental law, in addition to human rights law. In the college of science and technology I intend to enroll for environmental engineering courses, which will equip me with relevant knowledge and skills. These include offering amicable solutions to global warming, and initiating environmentally friendly initiatives. Outside the classroom, I want to learn more about the Korean culture, especially gaining more understanding on their language and other

SWOT and Financial Analysis for Verizon Research Paper

SWOT and Financial Analysis for Verizon - Research Paper Example SWOT and Financial Analysis for Verizon Verizon Communications Inc., which is also acknowledged as Verizon is duly considered to be one of the largest service providers of broadband and telecommunication in America. Verizon was formed in the year 2000 after the merging of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp. The company has been listed in Dow Jones Industrial Average in the year 2004 due to its consistent performance in delivering quality services to the clients. It can be apparently observed that the company earned greater business reputation and established itself as one of the leading providers of advanced IT solutions to large business association and government bodies worldwide. Resulting from consistence performance in the telecommunication industry, the company has acquired number of well-known companies like Alltel (Verizon, 2013). With this concern, this paper intends to conduct a complete SWOT analysis and financial analysis of the company (Verizon, 2013). Discussion SWOT Anal ysis SWOT analysis is regarded as the most common adapted techniques which helps in understanding the strengths along with the weaknesses and also to identify the opportunities available and threats that the organization face and/or would face in future. The main objective behind adapting SWOT technique by modern business organizations in today’s business world is that it helps in identifying the internal along with external factors. These factors often act in favor or against a particular company providing opportunities to mitigate the issues and develop plans to maintain the current position of the company in the global platform (University of Washington, n.d.). In this similar concern, Verizon is regarded as an American based company which deals with the products or services such as broadband and wire line and wireless communication among other related products. It can be viewed that Verizon’s fourth-generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) is considered to be the mo st advanced 4G network around the United States of America (USA). However, the gaining momentum of business market competition in the telecommunication industry and the invention of new technologies are creating a barrier for Verizon to maintain its leading position in the respective industry. Additionally, it has also been viewed that the operation plans of Verizon are facing crucial challenges with the increased level of competitors, alterations in government regulations and global economic slowdown (Verizon, 2013). The SWOT analysis of Verizon has been demonstrated hereunder. Strengths. One of the major strengths of Verizon is normally considered to be its strong liquidity position. The company is regarded as one of the most consistence performers in the global telecommunication platform. The company reported an annual increase in the liquidity ratio resulting in 38% increase in its current assets and 1% increase in current liability in the year 2011. Moreover, the company has al so reported a rapid growth in its receivable rate in the year 2011 which is also regarded as the other strength of the company. In terms of strengths, it can be viewed that the company possesses a substantial wireless capacity and coverage in the U.S covering nearly about 296

LAB 15 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

LAB 15 - Assignment Example The remodeling of the skeletal remains had not occurred because of the teeth loss was around 6 to 18 years. It is because the teeth were absolutely erupted. It is still approximately 18 years because this is the stage of the Basilar Suture. The complete fusion of the teeth was around two years which led to the complete permanent eruptions by the 18 years. The skeletal disjoint of the bones that led to the separation of the bones to pieces had to take around 6 years because the basilar bone has fused to form the occipital condyles. The identification of the skeleton remains is determined generally by creating a biological profile of the remains. In the four remains they are well identified by the age, sex, statue and the ancestry of the bones. The bones are also identified by the diseases that attack them. This is also determined by the injuries the human remains might have faced before in history. The first information given by the forensic analyst is whether the remains are bones and if the bones are for human beings. It is hard to identify the remains if it is covered by some substances that affect their shapes and mechanisms. The substances can be Ceramic shards, woods, rocks and concrete. For the forensic analyst to be sure if the remains is a bone, he or she ensures that the remains are well cleaned and examined very clearly. If the remains are bones then it is chance to understand whether they are from human beings. For the mammals their bones are all almost in the sale location and well shaped. By havi ng a skull, spine, ribs, and the four sets of the limbs. By looking at the shape of the bones, shape, and structure the anthropologist will know if the bone is for a human. By doing so, the information could explain whether the bones are for one individual all they are for other animals, male or female. The teeth of the remains look wet due to the enamel hypoplastic disease. The enamel of the teeth is also

Improving health for the psychiatric population Essay - 1

Improving health for the psychiatric population - Essay Example Each person is entitled to a good mental health to enable them to adhere to their roles in school, family and at work. According to EC (2005 p4), â€Å"mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes hi or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.† However, mental illness is accompanied by depression, stress, and mental strains, hence rendering a person incapable of acting normal. Nevertheless, Psychiatric problems may be hereditary, environmental, or economic. Psychiatric illness affects a country’s economy via loss of production through early retirement. Therefore, the need for mental health improvement on the general population is important; as its related challenges need to be addressed; for instance, stigma and human rights. Studies on the psychiatric population have been conducted over the past years, including the causes, symptoms, and treatment. According to Stewart, et al (2009 p749), manual restraining was commonly used in Psychiatric hospitals as a way of managing violent behaviors of the patients. Violent behaviors among the psychiatric patients are usually high; therefore, manual restraint is commonly used to calm the patient down. This method involves restraining the patient on the floor in a prone position to restrict any movement; however, such reaction lasts for about ten minutes. Stewart et al (2009) further insist that manual restraint involves the risk of injury to the involved parties, but are common in staff members. According to a survey conducted on 269 nurses in the psychiatric care units, they agreed to the fact the manual restraint had positive outcomes, although it was stressful (Stewart, et al, 2009, p.753). Mental disorders are not only evident in adults, but also among

Behavior finance and market efficiency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Behavior finance and market efficiency - Essay Example In this report, the main causes and underlying drivers of the recent global, financial crisis are explained. Also, comparison and contrast of behavioural and non-behavioural explanations commonly provided by finance academics have been made. The main causes behind the recent global, financial crisis include deregulation by financial institutions, accompanied by rapid financial innovation, which stimulated powerful financial booms. As the financial institutions became flawed, leading to the financial crises, governments responded to such crises with bailouts that allowed new expansions to begin (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). First, the integration of modern day financial markets with the era’s light government regulations, which is also referred to as the New Financial Architecture (NFA) led to the global, financial crisis (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). It should be noted that the New Financial Architecture is based on light regulation of commercial banks, lighter regulation on investment ba nks and little regulation on the shadow banking system. The shadow banking system represents hedge and private equity funds and special investments that are created by banks (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). Minimal regulation of financial institutions led excessive risk taking by numerous financial institutions because of the existing incentives in the market, without fear of restriction or limitation. The assumption that rational investors can make optimal decisions, and that only those who could handle risk, could take it is based on poor theoretical foundations, with no convincing empirical support (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). On the contrary, many investors and financial institution took excessive risk, which they could not manage. Consequently, the global, financial crisis had to arise when the potential losses associated with high risk occurred. Separately, it should be noted that perverse incentives affect key personnel of vital financial institutions such as commercial banks, insurance co mpanies, investment banks, hedge and private equity funds, as well as, mutual and pension funds to take excessive risk when financial markets are buoyant (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). For instance, the provision for no return of fees for securities for mortgage loans, if the securities suffered large losses made most market participants to take loans, as much as the loans may have not been viable or sound (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). Problems arose when the loan takers failed to service or repay the loans because their investments could not profit due to the prevailing market conditions. Financial innovation contributed to emergence of recent global, financial crisis because it led to the creation of financial products that are so complex that they are not transparent (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). This means that such financial products cannot be priced correctly. They are also illiquid and are not sold on markets. In the current financial market, there is a higher value of securities that are not s old on the markets than the existing securities (Crotty, 2009, p, 563). The fact, that sale of securities derivatives is mostly carried out by an investment bank negotiating with customers over the counter, led to

The Calculation of the Federal Non-Refundable Tax Credit Assignment

The Calculation of the Federal Non-Refundable Tax Credit - Assignment Example She was originally married but later on divorced due to domestic violence. She is a Canadian citizen who lives in Ontario province, Toronto city 2 vines Avenue. She is blessed with four children born in 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2001 respectively. As per now, the client does not pay the family caregiving amount. She earns a basic employment income of $100000 with the following deductions: $3000 for elected split-pension, $4000 for the annual union for professionals as he is in a union of accountants union and $8700 for her children expenses. She has credits such as $4468 for two children whom he doesn’t claim for the family caregiver, $8548 for other two children who claim for family caregiver and $5120 for CPP contribution through payment from box 16 and box 17 of all T4 slips, $891.12 for employment premiums. He, however, pays $1117 for being a Canadian employer, $2500 for public transit, $3000 for children fitness, $1500 for children’s arts, $3500 for home buyer’s, $5200 for medical expenses for herself and her children. The client has got two more types of income which is interest on bond and dividends. In the case study, the client earns a salary of $100000 in 2012 and was not a member of DPSP and RPP so he is entitled to contribute (18%*100000) = $18000 as contribution limit but he contributed $1500 to a spousal RRSP in 2013. His earned income is sufficient for maximum $24270 as the deduction in the year 2013. He will contribute and deduct up to $16500 in 2013 (18000+ {18000-1500}) the RRSP contribution is recorded in line 129 Capital gains: in April 2013, the client owned 500MBF (1000 board) of wooden boards that lasted for more than a year. It had a depletion of $60 per MBF. She is a calendar year taxpayer. On January 1, 2013, the boards had a fair market value of $45 per MBF. She sold all of them in April. On her 2013 tax return, she elected to treat the cutting of timber as the exchange. We report the difference between client’s fair market value and her adjusted basis for depletion as a capital gain.  Ã‚  

Summarise the main development of a child from the age range 0-2, 3-5 years and 5-8 years Essay Example for Free

Summarise the main development of a child from the age range 0-2, 3-5 years and 5-8 years Essay Development is the process of gaining new skills in all areas of life. All children are individuals so, although they will all go through the same stages of development, they may not necessarily go through these at the same time. For this reason, the term ‘average child’ is used when talking about the process of development, but we should consider each child’s development progress individually. The development of a child is usually categorised into five main areas: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social and Language. Physical Development. A newborn baby will lie on his back with his head to one side and his head will lag when he is pulled up to sit. He will have primitive reflexes, such as grasping and sucking. By 3 months he will be able to kick his legs, play with his own hands and lift his own head. At 6 months, he will be able to sit with support and pass a toy from one hand to the other. He will have made a large transition by 9 months and may sit without support, crawl or shuffle and will begin to use his index, middle finger and thumb together to pick up small items. He will have begun to walk unaided by 18 months, can use a spoon and will attempt to kick a ball. By 2 years, he will be able to use a pencil to make simple forms, build a tower of six bricks and start to use his preferred hand. Between 3 and 5 years, he will have the capacity to jump from a low step, pedal a tricycle and turn single pages in a book. His gross motor skills improvement will mean that he will be able to walk backwards and forwards along a line and aim, throw and catch a large ball. By 8 years old he will be able to jump from heights and he will have improved his balancing skills enough to walk along a wall or beam and ride a bicycle without stabilisers. The improvement in his fine motor skills will allow him to control a pencil in a small area and do detailed drawing. He will also have the control to tie and untie his shoelaces and build intricate models. Intellectual (or cognitive) development. Intellectual development is about how children learn, think and develop ideas. Children develop intellectually at different rates and some in areas that others do not. At birth a baby will blink in reaction to bright light and cry as a response to his basic needs. By 6 months he is easily distracted by movements and objects and will make attempts to reach out for  them. He will also put everything in his mouth. By 12 months he will recognise familiar people at 6 metres and be able to imitate those around him and the moods they express, for example laughing when someone he is with is laughing. By 2 years old he will enjoy imaginary play and will often talk to himself. He will be able to point to and recognise the names of parts of the body. Between the ages of 3 and 5 years, his fine motor skills will have increased enough to be able to control a pencil adequately and cut with scissors. He will be able to draw a square and a range of letters, some spontaneously and paint with a large paint brush. At 5 years of age, the concepts of numeracy and literacy will be within his capabilities and many children will be able to count and recognise simple words. Between the ages of 6 and 8 his ability to write will be developing, he will read simple books, predict next events and he will know his birthday. Emotional Development From birth a baby will be able to respond to their main carer. He will gaze intently at his carer and by 6 weeks will start to smile as a response to recognition of that person. At 6 months he will show the first signs of distress at the separation from his carer and fear of strangers.He will also actively seek attention.Between 9 and 12 months, he will enjoy the company of those people that he is familiar with. From 1 year old he will be more demanding and assertive and temper tantrums may start. He distinguishes between himself and others, but he is still egocentric and shows rage at being told ‘no’. He is also starting to develop object permanence, he no longer believes that an object that has been hidden is actually no longer there. At 2 years of age he will enjoy other children’s company but will still be reluctant to share his toys. He will, however, be able to cope with short periods of separation from his carer, for example while at nursery. At 3 years he is more aware of his own feelings and able to explain to others how he is feeling Between 5 and 8 years he will enjoy co-operative play and understand reasoning and taking turns. He will be increasingly less anxious about separation and have a good sense of self awareness. Social Development A baby is born with the ability to be sociable. If a baby becomes distressed, he can often be pacified by the sight, touch or smell of his main carer.Between the ages of 3 and 12 months he will be able to interact with his environment, imitating the moods displayed by others. He will discover how to play alone and entertain himself for lengthy periods. With his increasing mobility, he will become more confident and between 2 and 5 years old he will learn to make friends, even though at times he may resort to tantrums when he does not get his own way. By 8 years old he will be fairly independent and confident with an increasing sense of right and wrong and he will be able to form firm friendships with his peers. Language Development There are two distinct stages of language development; pre-linguistic and linguistic. The pre-linguistic stage is from birth to 12 months, when he starts to say his first words.This is the period in which a baby can only express himself by crying, when basic needs require attention, cooing, in response to his carer’s talk and gurgling or chuckling when playing. From about 9 months, he will begin to ‘babble’ sounds such as ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ and he will be able to imitate simple animal noises. The linguistic stage from 1 year old will bring the beginnings of recognisable words and the ‘average’ child will have a vocabulary of around 50 words by the time he is 2. Between 2 and 3 years he has a rapidly expanding vocabulary and can become frustrated if he is unable to express himself in words. By 5 years old he will be a confident speaker and will recognise new words and ask the meaning of them. His vocabulary will be in the region of some 5000 words. By 8 years old he will be able to speak in different tenses and explain himself with confidence.

Business Opportunities In Ethiopia Economics Essay

Business Opportunities In Ethiopia Economics Essay As there are lot of business opportunities in Ethiopia in different sectors, as it is not possible to address all of them. But try to concentrate and search opportunities on some of basic and important business sectors for foreign investors 3.1 Business Opportunities in Manufacturing Sector The manufacturing sector plays an important role in economy of Ethiopia it has almost a share of 5% of GDP and 37.8% to the annual output value of industrial production in 2008/09 (Central Statistical Agency Statistical Abstract 2009). The important manufacturing sectors in Ethiopia are  production of food, beverages, tobacco, textiles and garments, leather goods, paper, metallic and non-metallic mineral products, cement and chemicals.  The production of textile and garments, leather products and agro-processing are one of the most important areas for investment, because of its geographical advantage of easy and fast access to Middle-East and Europe. In manufacturing section we discussed on business opportunities in textile and garment industry and leather product. 3.1.1 Textile and garment In 1939 under the Italian government supervision and technology, the first textile factory was opened. Presently the current textiles industry involves in the process of spinning, weaving and processing. Ethiopia has five public textile factories producing mostly work-wear garments for the domestic market. Numerous privately-owned factories produce shirts, suits, work clothes and uniforms for national and foreign markets. Ethiopias textiles and clothing industry is undergoing major development, aided by the presence of a cheap, skilled and highly-motivated workforce. This surge has been helped by the countrys impressive economic growth over the past years. Ethiopias enormous export potential is made possible by the wide availability of raw cotton and other natural fibers and Ethiopias access to domestic, regional and international markets. The basis for the full cycle of business opportunities and the enormous growth potential for the textile industries is the local production of cotton. Large-scale production is carried out under irrigation, mainly in the Awash Valley, which has more than 50,000 hectares under cultivation. Another 45,000 hectares of high-quality cotton is cultivated by small-scale farmers. There still exists huge potential for the expansion of cotton cultivation in Ethiopia, especially in the Omo-Gibe, Wabi Shebelle, Baro Akobo, Blue Nile and Tekeze River basins. The production of cotton is well integrated into the textile sector, with garment factories relying heavily on domestically produced cotton. Available within Ethiopia are all essential ingredients for a competitive textile industry: raw materials, low wages and low energy costs. This gives the country a comparative advantage over other countries and regions. The Ethiopian Government is actively promoting the further modernization of the textile sector with the aim of attracting foreign investors that can penetrate the global market. Output and Products Ethiopias textile manufacturing industry embraces both medium and large public and private enterprises. Their main activities include spinning, fabric formulation, dyeing, finishing and sewing. The Ethiopian textile industry is the third largest manufacturing industry, only second to the food processing, beverage and leather industry. In the fiscal year 2000/01, with a total output value of 699.91 million birr (1USD=8.6 birr), the contribution of textile industry to GDP was 1.35% and 8.31% to the output value of the manufacturing industry. The Ethiopian textile sector mainly produces 100% cotton textiles. Each enterprise produces one product range, such as cotton yarn, cotton fabrics, bed sheets, blanket, knitwear etc. All the cotton yarn in the Ethiopian market is supplied to the local handlooms. It is estimated that the annual hand-loomed fabric is around 95 million square meters. Supply of raw material and accessories Out of the raw materials used by textile enterprises, cotton is widely grown in Ethiopia and it is easily available from local suppliers. Other materials including chemical fiber, wool, dyestuffs and chemicals as well as a small share of lint depend on imports. Export Market Data from Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency show that the fiscal year 2000/01 witnessed apparent increase over the previous year both in the variety and quantity of textile export. Variety increased from 6 kinds, mainly cotton yarn and bleach cloth made from pure cotton, to over 20 kinds including gray cloth pure cotton, bleach cloth, knitwear, bedding products etc. Among them, gray cloth made from pure cotton is the major export item, roughly contributing to 2/3 of the total export quantity. Ethiopias textile export is mainly targeted at European and African markets. In Europe, the export destinations for Ethiopian textiles are Italy, Sweden, and Belgium etc. African major export destinations are Djibouti, Kenya, and Swaziland etc. Ownership and geographical distribution of textile enterprises Due to the reform undertaken by the Ethiopian government in recent years, such as privatization and the favorable conditions for the inflow of foreign and domestic private investment into the textile sector, ownership of the industry has diversified. Various type of ownership, such as public enterprises, privately owned enterprises, shareholding corporation, partnership enterprise and individual enterprises etc have come into being and developed. Broadly classifying the enterprises into public and private, there are currently 19 public and 16 private enterprises which makes a total of 35 enterprises. Most public enterprises are large scale, playing leading roles, as evidenced by the number of enterprises and employees, total output values, income from sales etc. Most textile enterprises are situated in  densely populated large or medium cities. Out of the total 35 textile enterprises in Ethiopia, 18 are in Addis Ababa, the capital city. Textile enterprises located in Amhara and Southern (S.N.N.P) regions are 6 and 5 respectively. Marketing System of textile products Products such as yarn, fabric and blanket made by Ethiopian textile enterprises are usually distributed by private trading companies to the local market. The export of the product is mainly handled by the enterprises themselves. Imported textile hold a large market share in Ethiopian market and nearly one thousand small-scale family-owned trading firms and a small number of large trading companies are engaged in the import business of textile. Favorable Conditions for the Development of the Textile Sector in  Ethiopia Abundant Cotton Resources Ethiopia covers an area of 1.1036 million square kilometers and boasts vast fertile land, rich geographical and weather conditions, and abundant water resources. Domestic cotton production has already developed to a certain scale and for a long time it has made major contribution to satisfying the requirement of fiber by the textile sub-sector. Ethiopia has a large area of irrigated farmland which is very suitable for planting cotton. There is also great potential for further expanding the cultivation and increase the current yield. Abundant cheap labor resource With a population of more than 70 million, and with cheap cost of labor, Ethiopia can provide sufficient labor force with cost-competitiveness for the development of labor intensive textile sub-sector. The cost of labor in the Ethiopian textile sector is not only lower than some Asian nations with developed textile sector, such as China, India, Pakistan but also than some African countries such as Tunisia, Mauritius, Kenya, etc. Support through policy and incentives Ethiopia identifies textile as the key industry to the development of industrialization as well as the exploitation of local resources to promote export in accordance with the policy of  ¡Ã‚ ° Agriculture Development led Industrialization (ADLI). ¡Ã‚ ± The long-term strategy of the Ethiopian government is not only to develop the textile and garment industry and expand shares in domestic market, but also to develop a competitive, profitable industry in the export market. The Ethiopian government has been steadily pushing towards market-oriented reform by means of developing the private sector, deregulating rigid control over the economy, liberalizing foreign exchange, lowering tariff rate, etc. Given that export promotion is of paramount importance, the government has issued a series of export incentives. All in all, in terms of macroeconomic policy, the Ethiopian government has created an enabling environment for the development of textile sub-sector. Investment policy and incentives According to the newly revised investment policy, the minimum capital required for foreign investors has been lowered, creating a conducive investment environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The minimum capital requirement for foreign investors on a single investment project has been reduced to 100, 000 USD from 500, 000 USD for solely invested projects and for joint venture it has been lowered to 60, 000USD from 300,000USD. In addition, a series of investment incentives have been put in place, such as:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Remittance of foreign currency of profit and dividends from investment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Exemption from income tax from 1-5 years etc. In order to promote export, various flexible taxation encouragement measures have been undertaken such as export tax refund, tax coupon and bonded warehouse. Simplified procedures have greatly shortened customs clearance time. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has launched textiles and garment export forum to attract domestic textile and garment exporters into the discussion of issues and future development for textile and garment sector in order to promote the export of textiles and garments.   Increased Domestic Demand Ethiopia has a large territory with a large population. The growth rate of the population is 2.7%, creating a large potential market. According to the country economic development program, the average growth rate of GDP in the coming years will reach around 7%. As a result of the development of economy and the progress in reduction of poverty as well as the improvement of people ¡Ã‚ ¯s living standards, it is believed that not only the present market demand would increase, but also a new market demand will arise. Currently the Ethiopian per capita fiber consumption is roughly 1kg, which is far below the worlds average level of 8.7kg and Africa average level of 3.2 kg. It is estimated that domestic fiber demand will increase at an annual rate of 5% and the large and continuously increasing domestic market will fuel the development of the textile sector. Easy access to international market In the latter half of the 20th  century, the consumption of fiber products all over the world has increased five times, while the world population has increased only 1.4 times.  Ã‚  The improved living standards quality of human beings has created 2/3 of the increase in fiber production. In recent years, along with the revival of world economy, particularly the economic growth of U.S.A, Europe and Japan, the market demand has increased. In 2000, import volume of textiles in the world amounted to US $167.13 billion. The United States and EU were the two largest textile importers,  Ã‚  occupying 39.2% of the world ¡Ã‚ ¯s textile import value. Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) In May 2000, the United States approved Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) to give sub-Sahara region of Africa, specifically 48 countries, special preferential trade policy. In August 2001, Ethiopia was entitled AGOA qualifications and is one of the 18 beneficiary countries which can export textiles and garments to the United States free of duty and without quota restrictions. Everything but Arms of the European Union The European Union (EU) has given preferential trade policy to the Lesser Developed Beneficiary Countries (LDBC) including Ethiopia. Accordingly, Ethiopia is a beneficiary of Everything but Arms initiative of the EU in which all Ethiopian export products except arms can enter the EU market free of duty and without quota restrictions. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Ethiopia is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) agreement embracing 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa with a population of approximately 353 million. Exports and imports with member countries enjoy preferential tariff rates. Bilateral Agreement Ethiopia has signed bilateral trade agreements with 16 nations such as Russia, Turkey, Yemen etc which provide legal framework for enjoying most-favoured-nation treatment and removing tariff barriers. According to Generalized System of Preference (GSP), most of the products made in Ethiopia enjoy tariff treatment in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Japan and the majority of EU member nations. 3.1.2 Leather products Ethiopia exports processed and semi-processed hides and skins to the world market. Some of the products, such as Ethiopian highland sheepskin (which has gained an international reputation for making gloves), are known for their quality and natural characteristics. Ethiopian hide and skin exports include pickled sheep skin, wet blue sheep skin, crust sheep skin, wet blue goat skin, crust goat skin, crust cow hides, finished garment leather, finished glove leather, lining/upper leather, suede leather, full grain leather, embossed leather and patent leather.   The manufacturing and export potential of finished leather and leather products (such as leather garments, footwear, gloves, bags and other leather articles) is also highly promising. Production capacity of hides and skins Ethiopia has a major comparative advantage in the raw materials sector needed for the leather sector which makes it in principle very appropriate for leather product exporting: Ethiopia has the largest livestock production in Africa, and the 10th  largest in the world. Ethiopias livestock population is currently estimated at 35 million cattle, 21 million sheep and 16.8 million goats. Annually it produces 2.7 million hides, 8.1 million sheepskins and 7.5 million goatskins.[1]  This comparative advantage is further underlined by the fact that the cost of raw hides and skins constitute on average between 55 to 60% of the production of semi-processed leather (Kiruthu 2002). These data are provided by LLPTI and ETA. Muchie (2000: 539) provided slightly different estimates for the late 1990s: 30 million cattle, 24 million sheep and 19 million goats, while CSA (2002) provided diverging figures for 2000/01, especially in the case of skins: 35.4 million cattle, 11.4 million sheep and 9.6 million goats. Leather processing categories and suppliers With in the leather sector, the CSA distinguishes two broad categories. The first one is the tanning/dressing of leather, manufacture of luggage and handbags, while the second concerns the manufacture of footwear. The footwear enterprises are more numerous, but smaller in terms of employment than the former category. For example, in 1999/2000 out of 53 leather establishments, 38 (72%) were in footwear, employing only 49% of the total persons engaged (CSA 2002). Since the downfall of the Derg, a rapid expansion has been taking place in the tannery sub-sector. In 1990 there were only eight tanners, consisting of six public and two private plants. In November 2002, 19 tanneries were registered with the Ethiopian Tanners Association (ETA): 15 private and 4 public ones; the latter are in the process of privatisation. Furthermore, six private tanneries are in development. The annual sheep and goatskin production of an estimated 15.6 million skins falls below the capacity of the 19 tanneries (LLPTI). According to the ETA, the current daily capacity of the tanneries of 133,450 skins is being utilized for only 50.1%, while this percentage is higher for hides (65.6%), albeit of a much lower daily capacity of 5,055 hides. All but one tannery can produce skins, while only half of them have the capacity to produce hides. Regarding small-scale footwear producers in Addis Ababa, some studies have been undertaken (e.g. Tebarek 1997, Tseguereda 2002 and Zewdie et. al. 2003, this volume). There is a clear cluster of such producers in a specific part of  Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. Within this cluster (i.e.Woreda  5), there is a sub-cluster called  Shera Tera, where there are not only many producers, but also the largest concentration of suppliers of almost all raw materials necessary for shoe production. The very existence of a well-developed system of suppliers in the footwear sector represents one of the main assets of small shoe producers. The ability of suppliers to manufacture a wide variety of products with short delivery times allows the shoe producers to postpone to the last moment their purchase of inputs. Products Sheep and goats skins represent the bulk of Ethiopian leather production. Ethiopian highland sheepskins (cabretta), in particular retain a high reputation in international markets for some natural characteristics of clarity, thickness, flexibility, strength and compact texture which make them especially suitable for high quality gloves, sports equipment and garments.  Goat skins classified as  Bati-genuine  and  Bati-typeare characterised by thick, highly flexible and clean inner surfaces and are in high demand for the production of fashion leathers, especially suede (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Hides, in stead are not regarded as particularly attractive in international markets due to the poor quality and the small size of the  zebu,  the most common bovine in Ethiopia. (Bini 2002: 17). The Ethiopian leather and leather product sub-sector produces a range of products from semi-processed leather in various forms to processed leathers such as shoe uppers, leather garments, stitched upholstery, school bags, handbags, industrial gloves, and finished leather. Such leather products have been exported to markets in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan and the Far East. There is also export to countries in Africa, in particular to Nigeria and Uganda, as well as to the near East, i.e. Yemen. The market for leather products is mainly international and not domestic. Export During the past two decades leather and semi-processed hides and skins have constituted the second major export product of the country with between 10 and 20 % of total foreign earnings, second only to coffee with between 50 and 60% of earnings (apart from the late 1990s when it was just under 10%). The percentage has been fluctuating, and the most recent figures indicate a  decrease  in exports. In 2000/2001, 12,170 tons of skins and hides were exported, generating 618 million Birr (almost US $ 73 million); this accounted for 17.2 % of total foreign earnings. However, in the 2001/2002 fiscal year a smaller volume (10,462 tons) of skins and hides were exported, and, as a result, only 481 million Birr was obtained, accounting for 14.1 % of total foreign earnings (Addis Tribune 2002). It has to be said though that the year 2000/2001 witnessed a peak in the foreign earnings in this sector. The largest share of the foreign earnings comes from sheepskins; in 1995 sheepskins, mainly in pickles, accounted for 66% of the total of US $ 61.3 million in foreign earnings by the leather sector, while this percentage was 18% for (wet-blue) goatskins and 16% for hides and other skins (Muchie 2000: 549). It is also sometimes claimed that the large majority (i.e. 90%) of all the sheepskins that are produced in Ethiopia are exported. The importance of Ethiopian exports relative to other African countries, can be indicated by the share Ethiopia contributes to total African skin exports: 51% in the case of sheep and 30% in the case of goats. Exported products go in particular to the UK and Italy; in 1996 these countries took up 27% and 26% respectively (Kodama 2001 and Muchie 2000). Constraints for development Supply A major problem with the leather sector is the by-product status of hides and skins: Cattle, goats and sheep are mainly used for meat (cf. Kodama 2001 and Worku 2002). Thus, the product, i.e.  hides and skins, arrives when meat is needed,not when it is appropriate for leather processing. In Ethiopia meat is needed in three waves because of religiously induced fasting seasons and festivals; for example, in Amhara, which provides the largest volume of sheepskins, these festivals are Easter (April), Ethiopian New Year and Mesqal (September), and Christmas and Timqat (January). Quality As a result of this by-product status, not enough attention is paid to maintaining the quality of the hides and skins. Different serious problems at the source impacting on the leather quality are: flay cuts, putrefaction, animal diseases (ekek), branding, poor pattern, dirt and dung, hides/skins are not sold when prices are considered to be too low (deteriorating quality), etc. Estimates of the loss to the Ethiopian economy due to such problems reach US $ 14 million per year. In order to address these problems, (pilot) projects are underway with the participation of ESALIA, CFC, UNIDO, FAO, UNIC and others. At the same time, meat consumption, especially in the rural areas, is intertwined with the system of food security. Unless the food security of peasants is ensured, the meat consumption will not increase. Berhanu and Kibre (2002) have made an interesting study of competitiveness in the Ethiopian leather sector. For the tanning sector, they have concluded that the main factors affecting  competitiveness are: low capacity utilization; the poor economic infrastructure: inefficient infrastructure and inefficient bureaucratic structures combined significantly raises the transaction costs of firms, making it difficult to compete nationally or internationally; the technology employed is not updated (regularly), in particular the lack of learning in production management; the lack of hard currency to purchase spare parts and inputs; the relative lack of export support and/or promotion services For the leather footwear firms, the main factors affecting competitiveness are the poor quality of domestic leather, and the high cost of (imported) inputs. They conclude that resource endowment is not enough for competitiveness, and that, similarly, the availability of cheap and abundant labour by itself does not seem to be sufficient to compete internationally. Labour costs in Ethiopia, for example, are estimated to be lower than those in China: the basic wage in Ethiopia is around US $ 0,7 per day, or almost 6 Birr, while it is around US $ 1 in China. Most relevant with respect to technology is the lack of timely and efficient maintenance, modification, and innovation. This has in particular to do with the lack of spare parts (foreign currency shortage), and unsatisfactory learning effort exhibited by labour and management. 3.1.3 Recommended Modes of Entry in Manufacturing Sector Recommend mode for Textile and Garment Industry Leather products The government of Ethiopia invites companies to participate in the investment of Ethiopias textile industry. Foreign companies can participate in this industry in the following three forms: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By setting up wholly-owned (sole) enterprises by themselves. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By setting up enterprises in joint venture with Ethiopian companies. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By establishing cooperation with Ethiopian public enterprises. These enterprises, which are in the process of privatization by the government, have their own future prospects and plans. Some wish to expand their enterprises by installing new and modern machinery and equipment, some would like to develop their human resources through training. Some would like to study new market opportunities, etc. Therefore, there are various ways of cooperation with these enterprises, which may require discussion with specific enterprises. However, there are three forms of cooperation which applies to all enterprises which foreign investors can participate. These are: a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joint venture b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wholesale ownership c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Contract Management d) Direct investment 3.1.4 SWOT Analysis Strength Availability of excellent resources/huge domestic raw material base Abundant and inexpensive labour force Attractive investment incentive packages and tax structure Substantial growth industries: average of circa 10-30% per sector. Weakness Lack of trained management and skilled worker Quality of finished product Lower Productivity in various segments.   Industry is highly dependent on Cotton and raw leather. Lack of Technological Development that affect the productivity and other activities in whole value chain Opportunities Large, Potential Domestic and International Market. Product development and Diversification to cater global needs.   Scope for move toward garment infrastructure and value added production Scope for effectively exploiting markets with phase out quota regime effectively Scope for Technology up gradation on equipment front Threats Continuous Quality Improvement is need of the hour as there are different demand patterns all over the world. International labor and Environmental Laws.   To balance the demand and supply. To make balance between price and quality.   3.2 Business opportunities in Agriculture Sector Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy. The sector contributes about 43% of the GDP and 86% of exports.   The export of Ethiopia is dominated by coffee and oil seeds, which together accounted to 50.6% in 2008/09. Other principal export commodities are chat, flowers, pulses, and live animals. Ethiopia with 18 major agro-ecological zones and various agro-ecological sub-zones has a suitable climate for growing over 146 types of crops. 3.2.1 Food and beverage crops Maize Maize is an important crop in Ethiopia. It is grown in the mid highland areas of the country. There are huge tracts of land in all regions suitable for maize farming. Maize is mainly produced in SNNPR and Oromia regions where there are about 1.77 million hectares under cultivation. Wheat and Barley Farming Wheat and barley are mostly grown in the highlands and mid highland areas of the country mainly in Oromia (Bale and Arsi Zones) and some parts of Amhara (North Gondar and North Shewa) Regions.   Wheat and barley are the main cereal crops in the country with about 1,095,436 and 1,398,215 hectares under cultivation, respectively. The potential for the private sector in agro-processing and out growers scheme of development is significant. It offers excellent opportunities for production of wheat under irrigation in the Afar, Gambella, SNNPR and Somali Regions. Oil seeds and pulses A variety of oil seeds (e.g. sesame, rapeseed, linseed, groundnut, sunflower, Niger seed, cotton seed, etc.) are grown in Ethiopia. The demand for sesame has been increasing in the global market making sesame an increasingly important export commodity in Ethiopia. In 2008/09, Ethiopia exported 287,000 tons of sesame valued at 356.1 million USD, accounting for 24.6% of the total export earnings. Rapeseed, linseed, groundnut, sunflower, Niger seed and cotton seed also serve as raw materials for the domestic edible oil industry.   Cultivation of pulses like beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, etc. is also common in Ethiopia. Cultivation is carried out in both the highland and lowland areas of the country mainly by peasant farmers. Currently, the country exports a large quantity of pulses to the international market. There are also a number of factories that process pulses in the country. Rice Farming Rice could suitably grow in many parts of the country. The predominant potential areas are:- West central highlands of Amhara Region (Fogera, Gonder Zuria,Dembia, Takusa and Achefer); North West lowland areas of Amhara and Benshangul Regions (Jawi, Pawi, Metema and Dangur); Gameblla regional state (Abobo and Etang Woredas) South and South West Lowlands of SNNPR (Beralee, Weyito, Omorate, Gura Ferda and Menit); Somali Region (Gode); South Western Highlands of Oromia Region (Illuababora, East and West Wellega and Jimma Zones). Spices The major spices cultivated in Ethiopia are ginger, hot pepper, fenugreek, turmeric, cummins, cardamoms, corianders and black pepper. Currently, there are nearly 122,700 ha under spice farming. Spice production reached 244,000 tonnes per year. The potential areas for the cultivation of spice are Amhara and Oromiya, SNNP and Gambella regions. The potential for low land spice farming is estimated to be 200,000ha. Coffee Ethiopia is one of Africas leading exporters of coffee generating most of its export earnings. Coffee is grown over 600,000 hectares, the largest of these areas lie in the south and south western highlands of the country.   More than 60% of Ethiopian coffee is produced as forest or semi-forest coffee. The four main coffee growing regions in Ethiopia are: Harrar, Ghimbi, Sidama /Yirgacheffe, and Jimma/Keffa. The country has more genetic diversity among its coffee varieties than any other county.   Nine different varieties are cultivated in the four major growing areas.   Tea Ethiopian tea is some of the best quality tea in the world. Ethiopias current annual tea production from three private estates is approximately 7000 tons of black tea per annum. The total area covered by tea plantation is 2700 ha and the country only produces black tea but has potential to grow all types of tea. Investment potential exists in large-scale commercial tea production and modern tea blending and packing industries. The tea industry in Ethiopia has been lacking investment. The Government has been proactive to increase private investment in tea plantations. As part of its privatization program for state owned enterprises, in 2000, two estates covering 2,109ha for $27milliom USD were sold to private investors. Moreover, an Indian company that owns and runs the Tata Tea Estate has signed an agreement with a domestic owned private company to manage the tea estate. The company will transfer the latest technology of tea planting, growing, harvesting and manufacturing of black te a, assist in planting tea in 5,000 hectares of land and also have the option of investing in the equity of the company at a future date. 3.2.2 Horticultural crops Due to Ethiopias good agro-climatic circumstances it is able to produce fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Both the low- and highland areas offer good opportunities. The major fruits and vegetables growing areas of the country are summarized as follows East Hararghe (eastern part of the country) with vegetables dominating, East Shewa (Central Ethiopia in Oromia Regional State) produces both fruits and vegetables including tomato, green beans, orange, mandarin, papaya West S