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Agriculture and Environment Protection Department
The Department’s vision is based on a view of the future where
all Ethiopians will enjoy an improved and sustainable quality of life
through the application of appropriate new and emerging agricultural
technologies on small scale and Commercial farms.
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The mission of the Department is to facilitate the promotion and
development of agricultural scientific knowledge through the development
strategies, programmes and support to research and development.
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3.Background
Agriculture is found to be the starting point for initiating the
structural transformation of the economy, as a result, Agricultural
Development Led Industrialization (ADLI) is pursued as a major policy
framework for development since 1991. ADLI forms the basis of the
food Security strategy (FSS), as it does with the Poverty Reduction
Strategy (PRS) process and is viewed as the engine for poverty reduction
in Ethiopia. ADLI focuses on the development of the rural sector.
The adoption of ADLI presupposes productivity enhancement of smallholder
agriculture and industrialization, based on utilization of domestic
raw materials via adopting labor-intensive technology. The strategy
also focuses on the development of large-scale private commercial
farms. The central elements of ADLI are enshrined in the Government’s
new Rural Development Strategy. The essential elements are on development
and optimal use of both labor and land as a primary source for economic
development. Market-led agricultural development (demand as opposed
to supply oriented) is integral to this goal.
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4.Agricultural Research Policy
The Department is coordinating, promoting and developing science
and technology activities based on the framework of the National Agricultural
Research Policy and a brief description on the elements of the document
is stipulated as follows:
4.1 Objectives of the Agricultural Research Policy
The overall objective of the agricultural research policy is to give
a clear direction and guidance for agricultural research & the
application of research results for the development of agricultural
science & technology.
The specific objectives are:-
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To choose and generate agricultural technologies
that will improve the productivity of the agricultural sector and
that would enable the country to be self-sufficient in food production.
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To direct & coordinate agricultural research
programs in various areas, so as to solve major agricultural problems
& produce sustainable agricultural production that takes into
consideration the protection & development of the environment.
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To build the country's agricultural research
capability
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To improve the existing coordination among various
research institutions; to organize agricultural research activities
undertaken by different national & regional research institutions
and to disseminate research results to users thereby contribute
to the national economy.
4.2 Agricultural Research Policy Statements/Strategies
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In the effort to raise the productivity of the
agricultural sector & to be self-sufficient in food production,
agricultural research shall focus on generating & choosing technologies
that will improve the agricultural production of the peasant sector,
which constitutes the major part of agricultural production, in
quality, quantity and diversity.
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In order to raise the productivity of the agricultural
sector in all dimensions, private investors are encouraged to invest
on large & modern farms. Thus, agricultural research will also
be conducted to supply the necessary technologies for large and
modern farms.
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In order to fulfil the demands for agricultural
raw materials by the existing industries, research to generate &
choose technologies on agricultural products which are potentially
used as industrial raw materials will be undertaken.
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There are products that are not domestically
produced or are in short supply but have to be imported for their
domestic demand. Research will be conducted to enable the production
or substitution of such agricultural products.
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A greater emphasis is given to raise the quantity
and quality of exportable agricultural products which generate foreign
exchange earning. Research will be undertaken to raise the quality
of exportable agricultural products as it is the main determining
factor in the world market.
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Research will be conducted to improve the indigenous
technologies and knowledge depending on the different agricultural
system & practice of the country.
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There is a substantial amount of food loss during
post harvest due to backward storage and food processing. In order
to curb this problem research will be conducted to reduce both pre-
and post-harvest losses.
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The country’s natural resources is dwindling
from time to time. Research will be conducted to choose and generate
technologies which will enable to conserve, protect and sustainable
use the country's agricultural natural resources.
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Conduct research on how best the country's natural
resources, human & animal power be utilized to improve the living
standard of the rural community.
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Research will be undertaken to introduce, select
& utilize appropriate R & D results or knowledge that have
been developed in other countries with similar climatic conditions.
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To resolve urgent problems of the economic sector
within a short period of time, agricultural research activities
shall focus mainly on applied research & on programs that will
bring change within short period of time. However, research on basic,
strategic and new & emerging technologies (biotechnology etc)
will also be undertaken as deemed necessary.
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Research to generate technologies that will minimize
and/or substitute imported agricultural inputs such as crop varieties,
animal breeds, fertilizer, pesticides (herbicides, insecticides,
fungicides & others), agricultural machinery & other inputs
will be undertaken.
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There is wastage & environmental pollution
due to improper usage of inputs such as artificial fertilizers,
pesticides and farm machinery which are usually costly. Research
that would enable to identify the most appropriate improved inputs
and practices that are suitable for the different type of crop &
agro-ecological zones will be undertaken.
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In addition to undertaking research on modern
agricultural inputs, that are costly, research on less expensive
indigenous technologies and agricultural inputs as well as on local
land races will be undertaken.
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The government shall allocate the necessary
budget in order to coordinate research activity and build-up the
national agricultural research capability activities.
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Agricultural research institutes will be established
in different parts of the country to generate & choose technologies
which will resolve major agricultural problems of the various agro-ecological
zones & farming systems.
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Training opportunities will be given to agricultural
researchers in order to build their capability, create good working
environment and necessary incentives.
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The usefulness and accuracy of research results
generated either by national or foreign research institution have
to be evaluated and approved before they are released to the end-users.
To that effect, different committees for different agricultural
products, that have the legal entity to release research results
will be formed.
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It will be ensured that those technologies that
have the approval of the release committee will be multiplied and
distributed to the end users.
- In order to create a well established linkages between researchers,
extension agents, end-users i.e., farmers (including women), industrialists
and exporters, will be made to participate both during research project
planning and research result dissemination.
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5.Agriculture and Environment
Priority Programmes:
Although the intent of the government is to promote balanced and
integrated development, it is difficult to undertake all the necessary
science and technology activities owing to the limitation of resources.
Therefore, based on the country’s agricultural development strategy
and in view of the need to alleviate the basic and urgent problems
of the peoples, the following sectoral priority programmes are identified.
5.1 Agriculture
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To support activities for self-sufficiency through
improved food supply.
Support and encourage research to raise the productivity of crops,
animal resources and production implements in kind, quality and
quantity, taking into account environmental protection as well as
people's tradition and culture.
Encourage the use of irrigation schemes of different scales and
forms to secure reliable production.
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Encourage and support research on methods of
reducing pre and post harvest loss during agricultural production
employing appropriate technologies for prevention, handling &
processing.
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Encourage and support techniques for the development
of appropriate and productive fish species in rivers, lakes and
artificial /manmade/ ponds and encourage its wider and sustained
availability for consumption.
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Facilitate the application of technologies for
large scale food storage and conservation in all localities as far
as it is feasible.
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Promote and support Science and Technology (S&T)
activities that would facilitate the supply of agricultural raw
materials for industrial use in sufficient quantity & quality.
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Develop and support S&T methods that upgrade
the quality, quantity and variety of exportable agricultural products.
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Support and strengthen strategies that would
promote the dissemination of appropriate rural technologies for
integrated rural development by studying and developing the long
standing cultural know how and methodology.
5.2 Natural Resource Development and Environmental
Protection
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Develop a system that would help to map out
the country's eco-system/ecology to identify and register the diverse
biological resources and to collect, store, protect and utilize
the plant and animal genetic resources contained therein.
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Support studies that would help to design and
implement appropriate land use, practical and sustainable soil conservation
methods.
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Encourage mechanisms that would help to maintain
the natural forest, and in general control deforestation and ecological
imbalance.
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Facilitate research and development programmes
that would help to discover, popularize and develop fast growing,
drought resistant and multi-purpose tree species so as to rehabilitate
and develop degraded environments.
- Facilitate studies and research to reduce and control the polluting
effects of agricultural and industrial chemicals on environmental
air, soil and water.
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Establish a system of educational and social
programmes/methods to enhance the awareness, knowledge and participation
of the public on environmental protection and rehabilitation.
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Strengthen technologies/methods that would help
to follow up changes in the environment and to forecast, prevent
and minimize the effects of natural disasters.
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6.Departmental Organization
The Department is one of the four sectoral departments organized
under the commission composed of three teams, namely,
The manpower profile of the Department consists of the Department
Head, three team leaders, five experts and two secretaries.
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7. Duties and Responsibilities
of the Department
The duties and responsibilities of the Department, amongst others,
include the following:-
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Prepare draft sectoral science and technology
policy and follow-up its implementation
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Facilitate the coordination between/among full
time research institutions, higher learning institutions, technology
developing and disseminating organizations
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Formulate applicable short, medium and long
term sectoral science and technology plans and programmes
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Support and encourage research and development
institutions or centers at regional level that have contribution
in the promotion of agricultural S&T activities.
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Collect, compile, analyze and disseminate information
on agricultural research activities and results that are available
at national level and elsewhere.
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Collect and analyze information on expertise
engaged in sectoral S&T activities; financial resource allocation
and scientific equipment and facilities.
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Develop project profile and assist researchers
in preparing competitive project proposals
- Provide relevant information to regional agricultural research
institutions.
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Participate and advise the government in all
matters related to the sectoral S&T activities
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Encourage and support research and development
activities on improving and developing Indigenous Technical knowledge.
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This is a grant with the objectives to encourage
young researchers to undertake problem oriented applied research. It
also supports projects for disseminating and promoting appropriate technologies.
In spite of this, an institutional support modality has been in place
within the scheme since 1998/99. Till date, about 140 research projects
have been supported through the scheme.
8.2 Sida/SAREC Research Support
This is a bilateral research cooperation between the Government
of Ethiopia and Sweden to strengthen the research and teaching capacity
of the Ethiopian institutions. It has been in place since 1979/80.
The major beneficiaries are the Addis Ababa University and the Alemaya
University.
Some of the projects that have been supported through the collaboration
are:-
8.2.1 Addis Ababa University
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Flora of Ethiopia
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Ecological studies in Ethiopia
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Rapid propagation of indigenous tree species
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Genetic studies of Teffee (Eragrostis tef Zucc.)
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Integrated Pest Management on major crops
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Heavy metals in Ethiopian soils
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Ecology, biology and management of Sorghum chaffer
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Studies on species composition: Phytoplankton
in the Rift Valley
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Microbial input in coffee
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Biology of drought resistance in indigenous
crops
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Improving the re productivity on small holder
dairy cows
8.2.2 Alemaya University
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Livestock Breeding
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Genetics Studies on Some Ethiopian Land race
population of Cereal Crops
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Identification, Distribution and Ecology of
Grasshoppers on cereals
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Seventeen Ph.D. tied projects
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Genetic Diversity of Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)
Trotter.
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The effect of stage of harvesting on Sorghum
grain and stover yield and quality and the Feeding Value of the
Stover with and without Legume Hay supplementation
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Characterization of the reproductive capacity/efficiency
of indigenous cattle and sheep types of Ethiopia using Advanced
Biotechnological system
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Constrained function optimization and its application
in agricultural project planning and analysis
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Nuclear DNA content and floral morphology of
Guizotia (Asteracea: Heltanthae).
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Evaluation and cataloguing of tetraploid wheat
germplasm of Ethiopia
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Assessment of normal physiological status of
Ethiopian camel: haemato-biochemical parameters and effect of water
stress
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Risk Assessment and smallholder Farmer’s
Risk management Strategies in the Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia
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Livestock production, Household Food Adequacy
and Livelihood Security in Smallholder Mixed Farms in the Harare
Highlands of Eastern Ethiopia: Implications for Research and Development
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Shallot (Allium cepa var,. ascolonicum) Responses
to Plan Nutrients and Soil Moisture in a sub-humid Tropical Climate.
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Effects of Lining Methods on Sorghum Grain Quality
and Loss
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Economics of Soil and Water Conservation in
Ethiopia: A case Study from Eastern Ethiopian Highlands.
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Epidemiology of Bean Common Bacterial Blight
and Maize Rust in Inter cropping
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Biology and Management of parthenium Weed (Parthenium
hystrophorus L.) in Eastern Ethiopia
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Epidemiology, Economic Impact and Control Options
of Nematode parasites of Small Ruminants in the Lowlands of Eastern
Ethiopia
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Rural Financial markets and their Role in Small
Farmers’ Saving and Credit in Ethiopia.
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Tradition Denied, Economic Development and change
among the farming populations of Illubabor, Ethiopia
8.3 International Atomic Energy Agency Support (IAEA)
This is a support focusing on technology transfer and local capacity
building in terms of provision of scientific equipment and technical
assistance in the application of nuclear techniques in agricultural
sciences for improving productivity and production. Some of the projects
being financed through the Agency are
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Improvement of tef through mutation breeding
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Diagnosis and monitoring of Rinderpest and Trypanosomiasis
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Animal feed supplementation packages
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Integrating SIT for tsetse eradication
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Increasing food security in SSA
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Development of Improved Crop varieties
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Assistance to complete eradication of Rinderpest.
8.4 Man and the Biosphere
It is one of the UNESCO’s programme for developing the basis
within the natural and social sciences for the sustainable use and
conservation of biological diversity and for the improvement of the
relationship between people and their environment globally. The two
projects supported by this programme are:-
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Deesa protected area: An assessment of human
impacts, evolutionary patterns and options for sustainable management
(1997)
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Menagesha-Suba state Forest: A strategy for
considering villagers demands and perceptions in its management
(1998)
8.5 Joint Ethio-Russian Expedition Project
The collaboration mainly focused on generating scientific information
on Zoology, ecology and systematic's of different species of Ethiopian
fauna and facilitating the development of biological and ecological
research capacity in national partner institutions.
Since 1987 the following research studies have been undertaken under
Freshwater Biology and Mammals sub-programs.
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Ichthyofaunal studies including taxonomy and
comparative morphology
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Electrophysiological studies of the Ethiopian
catfishes
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Study on Ethiopian mammals
8.6 East African Regional programme and Research Network for Biotechnology,
Biosafety and Biotechnology Policy Development (BIO-EARN)
The program started in 1999 to build capacity in biotechnology in
Ethiopia, Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda in meeting the challenges of modern
biotechnology.
The Ph.D. training tied projects include:
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Molecular genetic diversity analysis of Coffee
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Genetic and biotechnological approach in producing
clean and disease free Enset
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Micropropagation of Hagenia abyssinica
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Developing and optimizing processes for biological
nitrogen removal from tannery wastewater
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Effect of Environmental factors on Female choice
and gene dispersal
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9.Links
The Department has a strong linkage with national and international
institutions that are involved in agricultural science and technology
activity such as
At National level
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Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization
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Amhara Agricultural Research Institute
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Oromia Agricultural Research Institute
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Debub Agricultural Research Institute
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omali Agricultural Research Institute
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Tigray Agricultural Research Institute
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Addis Ababa University
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Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
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Institute of Pathobiology
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Department of Biology
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Alemaya University
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Jimma College of Agriculture
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Mekelle Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources
Faculty
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Ambo College of agriculture
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Awassa College of Agriculture
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Wondo-Genet Forestry College
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National Veterinary Institute
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Ministry of Agriculture
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Regional Bureaus of Agriculture and Natural
Resources Development
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Environmental Protection Authority
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Institute of Biodiversity Research and Conservation
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National Agricultural Input Supply Authority
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National Artificial Insemination Center
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Ministry of Rural Development
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Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization
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Some NGO's and Private Enterprises
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Sida/SAREC
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IAEA
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International foundation for Science
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BIO-EARN
- International Livestock Research Institute
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Russian Academy of Sciences
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International Service for National Agricultural
Research System
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UNESCO
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Others
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Contact person:
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Ato Girma Yosef,
Head, Agriculture and Environmental Protection Department
Ethiopian Science and Technology Agency
P.O. Box: 2490
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251-11-1573434
Fax: 251-11-1572715
251-11-5518829
E-mail: agri@estc.gov.et or
estcagri@yahoo.com
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Presentation
on National S&T Potential Survey Results |
