Peer Review History

Original SubmissionMarch 28, 2024
Decision Letter - Meraj Alam Ansari, Editor

PONE-D-24-11303Factors Affecting Rice Production and Market Supply: the case of Guraferda district, Bench Maji zone in Southern EthiopiaPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Mulatu,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

Please submit your revised manuscript by Jul 13 2024 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org. When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file.

Please include the following items when submitting your revised manuscript:

  • A rebuttal letter that responds to each point raised by the academic editor and reviewer(s). You should upload this letter as a separate file labeled 'Response to Reviewers'.
  • A marked-up copy of your manuscript that highlights changes made to the original version. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Revised Manuscript with Track Changes'.
  • An unmarked version of your revised paper without tracked changes. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Manuscript'.

If you would like to make changes to your financial disclosure, please include your updated statement in your cover letter. Guidelines for resubmitting your figure files are available below the reviewer comments at the end of this letter.

If applicable, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io to enhance the reproducibility of your results. Protocols.io assigns your protocol its own identifier (DOI) so that it can be cited independently in the future. For instructions see: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/submission-guidelines#loc-laboratory-protocols. Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option for publishing peer-reviewed Lab Protocol articles, which describe protocols hosted on protocols.io. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols.

We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

Meraj Alam Ansari

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Journal requirements:

When submitting your revision, we need you to address these additional requirements.

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Additional Editor Comments:

Comments

Change the title its looking local study, it should be region specific title "Determinants of Rice Production and Market Supply: A Study of Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia"

Abstract should be supported with quantified data of your results.

Define all the determinants taken in this study and support with quantified data as well as references. Introduction is too long and vague statements must be discarded from introduction. Focused introduction should be rewritten.

Study area map should be included

Conclusion looks like a thesis finding. It should be very sound and brief.

Policy implication should be added separately.

Check your references properly, excess reference should be deleted and missing references in text should be added in the list.

Punctuation and grammatical error should be rectified through out the manuscript.

Based on the reviewwers comments the article should be accepted after Major Revision. All the comments should properly address.

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: After reviewing the manuscript, following are my comments for the author:

1. The title should clearly reflect the specific focus of the study. Consider revising to something more precise, such as "Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers' Market Supply of Rice in Guraferda District, Ethiopia."

2. Language and Grammar: Revise for grammatical accuracy and readability.

3. The results can be improved by adding figures.

4. Comparing and contrasting with similar studies would add depth to the discussion.

Reviewer #2: The paper is suitable for publication; however, the author should provide a brief development status of rice production and the relevance of market supply for sustainable rice production and household economy.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes: Dr. Cornel Anyisile Kibona

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[NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.]

While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com/. PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Registration is free. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email PLOS at figures@plos.org. Please note that Supporting Information files do not need this step.

Attachments
Attachment
Submitted filename: PONE-D-24-11303.pdf
Revision 1

Dear,

Meraj Alam Ansari

Academic Editor, PLOS ONE

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to submit a revised manuscript titled: Factors Affecting Rice Production and Market Supply: the case of Guraferda district, Bench Maji zone in Southern Ethiopia to PLOS ONE Journal.

I appreciate your time and effort that journal editor and the reviewers have dedicated to providing your comment to modify the manuscript. I am really grateful to the editor and reviewers for their insightful comments on improving my paper and make sound. I have been able to incorporate all necessary comments and suggestions provided by the editor and reviewers. I have made the changes within the manuscript with the track change and submitted with also the revised manuscript for publication. Herewith I have provided response to all the relevant reviewers’ comments.

Comments from Editor

Comment1: Change the title its looking local study, it should be region specific title Determinants of Rice Production and Market Supply: A Study of Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia"

Response: Accepted and modified the title accordingly

Comment 2: Abstract should be supported with quantified data of your results.

Response: Accepted and modified with thanks

Comment 3: Define all the determinants taken in this study and support with quantified data as well as references.

Response: All available reviews were done and all determinants defined

Comment 4: Introduction is too long and vague statements must be discarded from introduction. Focused introduction should be rewritten.

Response: This comment has been taken as a very critical and all necessary adjustments were made and introduction part made more condensed and shortened.

Comment 5: Study area map should be included

Response: Accepted and map is included

Comment 6: Conclusion looks like a thesis finding. It should be very sound and brief.

Policy implication should be added separately.

Response: Accepted and made brief

Comment 7: Check your references properly, excess reference should be deleted and missing references in text should be added in the list.

Response: Reference part has been double checked and necessary adjustments done

Comment 8: Punctuation and grammatical error should be rectified throughout the manuscript.

Response: Checked thoroughly the paper and modified

Comments from the reviewer 1: The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Response: As the study was based on household survey, there is no experiment conducted and conclusion drawn based on the data presented.

Comments from the reviewer 4: Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Response: Accepted and all necessary modifications made

Comments from reviewer 5:

Comment 1. The title should clearly reflect the specific focus of the study. Consider revising to something more precise, such as "Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers' Market Supply of Rice in Guraferda District, Ethiopia."

Response: As the study was mainly focused on market supply and production, the author wanted to mention the title as the editor commented.

Comment 2. Language and Grammar: Revise for grammatical accuracy and readability.

Response: Accepted and all necessary modifications made

Comment 3. The results can be improved by adding figures.

Response: depending on the type of study, could not find appropriate figure to add. Only map of the study area added on methodology part.

Comment 4. Comparing and contrasting with similar studies would add depth to the discussion.

Response: Accepted and all necessary modifications made

Sincerely,

Ejigu Mulatu

Attachments
Attachment
Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.pdf
Decision Letter - Meraj Alam Ansari, Editor

PONE-D-24-11303R1Determinants of Rice Production and Market Supply: A Study of Bench Sheko Zone in EthiopiaPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Mulatu,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

Please submit your revised manuscript by Sep 01 2024 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org. When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file.

Please include the following items when submitting your revised manuscript:

  • A rebuttal letter that responds to each point raised by the academic editor and reviewer(s). You should upload this letter as a separate file labeled 'Response to Reviewers'.
  • A marked-up copy of your manuscript that highlights changes made to the original version. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Revised Manuscript with Track Changes'.
  • An unmarked version of your revised paper without tracked changes. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Manuscript'.
If you would like to make changes to your financial disclosure, please include your updated statement in your cover letter. Guidelines for resubmitting your figure files are available below the reviewer comments at the end of this letter.

If applicable, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io to enhance the reproducibility of your results. Protocols.io assigns your protocol its own identifier (DOI) so that it can be cited independently in the future. For instructions see: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/submission-guidelines#loc-laboratory-protocols. Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option for publishing peer-reviewed Lab Protocol articles, which describe protocols hosted on protocols.io. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols.

We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

Meraj Alam Ansari

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Journal Requirements:

Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. If you have cited papers that have been retracted, please include the rationale for doing so in the manuscript text, or remove these references and replace them with relevant current references. Any changes to the reference list should be mentioned in the rebuttal letter that accompanies your revised manuscript. If you need to cite a retracted article, indicate the article’s retracted status in the References list and also include a citation and full reference for the retraction notice.

Additional Editor Comments:

Dear Author

The manuscript is substantially revised by the Authours. It may accepted after minor correction as suggested below.

1. Introduction section may focussed with inclusion of Keywords, gap, novelty of study, robust hypothesis etc.

2. Refrences must be arranged in the format of PLOS One. In refernce No. 14,22, 27, 28 year of publication is missing.

Thankyou

[Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.]

[NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.]

While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com/. PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Registration is free. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email PLOS at figures@plos.org. Please note that Supporting Information files do not need this step.

Revision 2

All the comments were well received and incorporated. The comments were very critical to improve the manuscript.

Comment on reference

Comment1: Follow journal reference style and make complete and correct. Comment on retracted articles

Response: Accepted and modified all the references used. All relevant changes were made. I have not used retracted articles.

Editor Comments:

1.Introduction section may focused with inclusion of Keywords, gap, novelty of study, robust hypothesis etc.

Response: The comment is accepted and all necessary improvements were made.

2. References must be arranged in the format of PLOS One. In refernce No. 14,22, 27, 28 year of publication is missing.

Response: The comment is accepted and all necessary improvements were made. Major revision in reference section made and hopefully fits the journal requirement. Thank you for this very important and critical comment.

Thank you very much.

Attachments
Attachment
Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.docx
Decision Letter - Meraj Alam Ansari, Editor

Determinants of Rice Production and Market Supply: A Study of Bench Sheko Zone in Ethiopia

PONE-D-24-11303R2

Dear Dr. Mulatu

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Meraj Alam Ansari

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Formally Accepted
Acceptance Letter - Meraj Alam Ansari, Editor

PONE-D-24-11303R2

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Mulatu,

I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS ONE. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now being handed over to our production team.

At this stage, our production department will prepare your paper for publication. This includes ensuring the following:

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Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE and supporting open access.

Kind regards,

PLOS ONE Editorial Office Staff

on behalf of

Dr. Meraj Alam Ansari

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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