History and Status of Agricultural Research in Ethiopia: A Review

Abstract

The paper reviews the historical development of agricultural research in Ethiopia. In about half a century of existence, the national agricultural research system has developed and released several improved crop varieties with their packages, but this is considered as a piecemeal approach and the research on livestock, mechanization and natural resources are lagging behind. Furthermore, food security, nutrition, healthcare and environmental sustainability are among Ethiopia’s biggest challenges. Thus, Ethiopia needs to double food production without increasing the area of land under cultivation, by using high-tech manufactured goods because biodiversity in the country is under threat; it has to invest much in developing her national agricultural research systems (primarily infrastructure and human resource development) that are thought to contribute towards transforming traditional and subsistence farming. The country also needs to develop its own research capacity to assess the critical problems through local, regional and national institutions.