I had the privilege of serving as an External Examiner for Dr. Tagesse's PhD dissertation. Throughout the evaluation process and public defense, he demonstrated exceptional scientific curiosity, critical thinking, and strong problem-solving abilities. His doctoral research is of high scholarly standard, characterized by a clearly defined research problem, rigorous methodology, sound theoretical grounding, robust empirical evidence, and insightful analysis. The study makes a meaningful contribution to knowledge and addresses a timely and relevant issue with significant implications for agrarian development. Its findings provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working to promote sustainable agricultural and rural transformation. Based on the quality, originality, and practical relevance of his work, I consider Dr. Tagesse a highly capable researcher with strong potential to contribute to both academia and evidence-based policy development.