Agricultural research in Ethiopia has not achieved a consistent increase in crop productivity over the past 40 years. Ethiopia is still economically underdeveloped and food aid imports are estimated to be more than 0.6 million metric tonnes each year. However, recent developments are more encouraging.

Agricultural research previously focused on developing new technologies that were then disseminated to farmers by extension workers. Today, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) advocates integrated agricultural research for development (IAR4D). This involves partnerships between stakeholders (including farmers, extension workers, researchers, farmers’ cooperatives unions, political administrators, exporters and foreign buyers) at every stage of the research process: marketing is considered crucial from the start.

The haricot bean is poorly managed by Ethiopian farmers despite the fact that exports bring in nearly US$10.5 million annually. EIAR has developed bean varieties of commercially acceptable quality; it has also recommended improved management practices such as ploughing two to three times a year, planting in rows and weeding as necessary. These were tested on 700 plots in three woredas (districts) in the Rift Valley in partnership with all stakeholders.

• Using new technologies such as improved seed and the improved management practices, farmers obtained crop yields of 1.9 to 2.3 metric tonnes per hectare – three times more than conventional practices.
• Each farmer obtained an average gross income of upwards of 3,500 birr (local currency) - more than 3.5 times the average per capita annual income in Ethiopia.

EIAR managed an agreement whereby the Lume-Adama Farmers’ Cooperative Union helped farmers to set a fair price for their beans (they also provided credit and improved seeds). The cooperative guaranteed a price of 175 birr per 100 kg for dry beans and the British company Portman agreed a deal (initially for one year) to purchase the beans from the union at 190 birr per 100 kg. Another company, ACOS of Italy, is now agreeing a similar deal with the union for its new canning plant close to where the beans are produced.

Clearly, innovative agricultural research and strong partnerships can improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and contribute towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals of ensuring food security and poverty reduction. Similar research into potatoes, onions, lentils, durum wheat, finger millet, pyrethrum and sericulture (silk worm farming) has resulted in further successes.

The challenge now is to translate these pilot findings into more widespread practices by farmers. EIAR is now aiming to accelerate this process. This will require:

• A greater recognition by the Ethiopian government that investing financial resources in agricultural research is highly beneficial. Promoting success stories from research projects will persuade governments to invest greater amounts.
• Involving farmers as partners in the development and dissemination of technology. This ‘Farmer to Farmer’ approach will speed up the spread of technologies.

id21 Research Highlight: 15 March 2006

Further Information:
Tsedeke Abate
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
PO Box 2003
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Tel: +251 11 646 2270
Fax: +251 11 646 1251
Contact the contributor: dg@earo.org.et 

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

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