Ezzeddine Mosbah | Sustainable Agriculture | Research Excellence Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ezzeddine Mosbah | Sustainable Agriculture | Research Excellence Award

King Faisal University | Saudi Arabia

Ezzeddine B. Mosbah is an agricultural and rural-development economist whose academic formation includes a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development from the National Agricultural Institute of Tunis (INAT, 2007), preceded by a specialized engineering degree in Economy and Rural Development (1996) and an agro-economist engineering degree (1993) from the same institute. With more than two decades of professional experience across ministries of Agriculture, Education, and Employment & Vocational Training in Tunisia and, since 2017, as Assistant Professor at King Faisal University (KSA), and previously at institutions in Tunisia, he has taught courses ranging from Agricultural Economics and Water Economics to Development Economics, Statistics, Operations Research, and Project Feasibility Studies. His research interests revolve around agricultural economics, rural development, labor and employment markets, efficiency and impact evaluation, environmental economics and waste management, food marketing (notably date-palm economics), water desalination, and econometric/operations-research methods. According to publicly available citation data, his h-index is 3 with 33 citations and 6 documented publications — a baseline that signals a career still consolidating its scholarly impact. Among his work is the monograph Rationaliser le Comportement Public: la Formation un Exemple (2015). Through empirical analyses of water-use efficiency, agricultural investment incentives, municipal waste impacts, technical efficiency of farms, and environmental sustainability, Mosbah contributes to policy-relevant knowledge in both MENA and Gulf contexts. His ongoing focus remains on efficiency measurement, sustainable rural development, and socio-economic evaluation of agricultural and environmental systems.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Mosbah, E. B., & Dharmapala, P. S. (2022). Evaluating the effects of COVID-19 and vaccination on employment behaviour: A panel data analysis across the world. Sustainability.

Mosbah, E. B. (2021). Assessment of environmental and economic impacts of municipal solid wastes management system: A case study. Journal of Ecological Engineering.

Mosbah, E., Zaibet, L., & Dharmapala, P. S. (2020). A new methodology to measure efficiencies of inputs (outputs) of decision making units in data envelopment analysis with application to agriculture. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences.

Mosbah, E. B. (2025). Assessment of land cover changes and an exploration of their key factors at Al-Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia (Working paper).

Kpanoga Kolombia | Forestry Economics | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Kpanoga Kolombia | Forestry Economics | Best Researcher Award

University of Alberta | Canada

Kpanoga Kolombia is a Development Economist specializing in renewable energy, environmental and natural resource economics, with over five years of academic and policy research experience across Canada, France, Germany, and West Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Sherbrooke, with a focus on non-market valuation and climate economics, and advanced degrees from Aix-Marseille University and the University of Lome. His work includes extensive empirical research on willingness to pay for carbon emission reduction, forest restoration, and ecosystem services in Quebec and Togo. Currently, he is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Alberta, a lecturer at ENAP, and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Quebec in Outaouais. His research interests span development economics, climate change, forest economics, and public policy. Kolombia has published in peer-reviewed journals like the African Journal of Ecology, and has several articles under review in journals including Ecological Economics and Plos One. He has received multiple scholarships including the Mitacs, FRQ, and Affaires Mondiales Canada Fellowships. Kolombia continues to advance inclusive and evidence-based environmental policy through interdisciplinary and applied economic research.

Profile:  Orcid

Featured Publications

Kolombia, K., & Yovo, K. (2025). Willingness to pay for forest restoration in Togo: Comparison of estimates from choice experiment, contingent valuation and travel cost methods. African Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70102

Kolombia, K. (2024). Economic evaluation of Mont-Bellevue Park in Sherbrooke using the individual travel cost method. Manuscript submitted for publication, Discover Cities.

Kolombia, K. (2024). Effect of policy consequentiality on willingness to pay for renewable energy in transport in Quebec. Manuscript submitted for publication, Journal of Cultural Economics.

Dupras, J., & Kolombia, K. (2024). Willingness to pay for the forestation of agricultural coulees: A choice experiment and contingent valuation study in Quebec. Manuscript submitted for publication, PLOS ONE.

Kolombia, K. (2024). Willingness to pay for renewable energy: A choice experiment and contingent valuation study in Quebec. Manuscript submitted for publication, Ecological Economics.

Chala Hussen | Agri-Food System | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Chala Hussen | Agri-Food System | Best Researcher Award

Ambo University | Ethiopia

Chala Hailu Hussen is an Ethiopian academic and researcher specializing in Agricultural Economics, currently serving as Assistant Professor and Research & Community Service Coordinator at the College of Agriculture & Veterinary Science, Ambo University, Ethiopia. He holds a BSc and MSc in Agricultural Economics from Haramaya University and is pursuing a PhD in Agri-food Systems at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy, focusing on agricultural transformation. His professional journey includes teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, agricultural production economics, and climate change economics, along with supervising more than twenty MSc theses and serving as examiner and chairperson in defense boards. He has actively contributed to research on rural credit, market information, farm input commercialization, cluster farming, and climate adaptation strategies, publishing several scientific papers with an h-index of 2, 7 documents, and over 35 citations. In addition, he has participated in national and international training programs on climate information services, decision support systems, and rural development planning, enhancing his expertise in agricultural resilience and sustainability. Recipient of various certificates and recognitions, Chala continues to advance research and education in agricultural economics, with a strong commitment to capacity building, policy engagement, and promoting sustainable agricultural systems.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Hailu, C., Canali, G., & Tabaglio, V. (2025). High-value farm product transformation in contract marketing: Evidence from smallholder farmers in central Ethiopia. Environment, Development and Sustainability.

Besha, T. B., Fikadu, M., & Chala, H. (2022). Marketable supply of honey: Evidence from farmers households in Ethiopia. Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development.

Alemayehu, G., Rikitu, A., & Hailu, C. (2022). Producers’ participation decision in tomato and onion marketing with level of participation in Ejersa Lafo District of West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Malaysian Business Management Journal.

Hussen, C. H., & Geleta, F. T. (2021). Factors affecting smallholder farmers’ participation in cluster crop production: Evidence from selected districts of West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture.

Wakjira, M., Temesgen, F., Hailu, C., & Wegari, D. (2021). The economic impacts of COVID-19 on micro and small enterprises: Empirical evidences from Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture.

Hussen, C. (2018). Factors affecting credit use for rural farming at household level: Evidence from smallholder farmers of Toke-Kutaye district.

Hussen, C. (2017). Effect of access to market information services on supply of major vegetables: Evidence from farm households of Ambo and Toke-Kutaye Districts, West Shewa, Ethiopia. Information and Knowledge Management.

Umesh Khadka | Urban Agriculture | Best Paper Award

Mr. Umesh Khadka | Urban Agriculture | Best Paper Award

Tribhuvan University | Nepal

Author Profile

Scopus
Orcid ID
Google Scholar

👨‍🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Mr. Umesh Khadka was born on 30 August 1985 in Itahari, Sunsari, Nepal. His academic journey began with a strong focus on Economics and Education, completing his SLC in 2059 BS and advancing through +2 (HSEB), B.A., B.Ed., and M.A. in Economics from Tribhuvan University. He furthered his scholarly endeavors by completing an MPhil in Economics from NOU in 2075 BS, earning an impressive GPA of 3.60 (Grade A-), signaling academic excellence and readiness for advanced research.

💼 Professional Endeavors

With more than 12 years of teaching experience, Mr. Khadka has become a cornerstone of economic education in Nepal. His professional milestones include:

  • 🎓 12 years teaching Economics at Tribhuvan University’s Janta Multiple Campus in BBS and BA programs.

  • 🧑‍🏫 8 years instructing Business Economics at the MBS postgraduate level, TU.

  • 🌐 6 years teaching BBA and MBA programs at Green Peace Lincoln College, affiliated with Lincoln University College, Malaysia.

  • 🏫 Over 12 years teaching at +2 level, mentoring thousands of students.

His dedication to teaching both theoretical foundations and real-world applications has shaped countless minds in the fields of economics and business.

📚 Contributions and Research Focus

Mr. Khadka’s academic contributions extend beyond the classroom:

  • Participated in over 10 professional training programs covering:

    • SPSS, STATA, ArcGIS, and Python for data analysis

    • Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

    • Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

    • Academic writing and curriculum development

  • His research primarily focuses on Business Economics, Applied Econometrics, and Economic Sustainability.

🗂️ Academic Paper Presentations

Mr. Khadka has demonstrated his scholarly insight through national and international platforms:

  1. 📝 Presented a paper at the International Conference on Paradigm Shift in Economics, Business Practices and Sustainability, India (Nov 2022).

  2. 📝 Delivered a paper at CAICE-2023, part of CEDECON’s Annual International Conference in Economics (Sept 2023), organized by the Central Department of Economics.

These engagements signify his growing footprint in academic discourse and collaborative research.

📖 Academic Cites

While detailed citations and published works were not provided, Mr. Khadka’s active participation in international conferences and academic workshops shows his intent to contribute significantly to peer-reviewed literature in the coming years. His work is expected to appear in forthcoming national and international economic research platforms.

💻 Technical Skills

Mr. Khadka has built technical competence across various tools essential for modern research:

  • 📊 SPSS, STATA, EViews – Statistical data analysis

  • 🗺️ ArcGIS – Spatial data visualization and analysis

  • 🐍 Python – Programming for data management and modeling

  • 🧠 Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) – Advanced modeling technique

  • ✍️ Academic writing – With training for publication-level standards

👨‍🏫 Teaching Experience

His teaching spans undergraduate to postgraduate levels, encompassing:

  • Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Business Economics, Quantitative Techniques, and Research Methodology.

  • In-depth syllabus design, evaluation methodology, and student mentorship for BA, BBS, MBA, and MBS programs.

He has played a vital role in updating curricula, participating in faculty development workshops, and mentoring new educators.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

Mr. Umesh Khadka stands as a dedicated educator, researcher, and lifelong learner. His journey is marked by:

  • Consistency in academic service

  • Vision for research-led teaching

  • Pursuit of skill enhancement

  • Strong engagement in international academic platforms

🚀 Going forward, he aims to contribute to policy-relevant economic research, author academic publications, and mentor future economists in Nepal and beyond.

📖Publications

 Enhancing agricultural productivity through improved fertilizer accessibility: insights from a contingent valuation study in Eastern Nepal
  • Authors: Umesh Khadka, Niranjan Devkota, Ghanashyam Khanal, Tek Maraseni, Puspa Raj Ghimire
    Journal: Agriculture & Food Security
    Year: 2025
Does joint land ownership empower rural women socio-economically? Evidence from Eastern Nepal
  • Authors: Puspa Raj Ghimire, Niranjan Devkota, Tek Maraseni, Ghanashyam Khanal, Jagat Deuja, Umesh Khadka
    Journal: Land Use Policy
    Year: 2024
 Willingness to Pay for Improved Solid Waste Management in Itahari, Sunsari, Nepal
  • Author: Umesh Khadka
    Journal: Economic Journal of Nepal
    Year: 2023