History (Information is incomplete): Humera Agricultural Research Center, was established in 1995 as one of the five agro-ecology based research centers established under TARI. It was established to conduct research on oil crops (sesame and sunflower), sorghum, cotton, and lowland pulses with the objective of supporting and promoting mechanized agriculture in the Western and northwestern lowland plains of Tigray. Currently, Humera Agricultural Research Center is serving as national center of excellence for sesame crop which was previously under Werer Agricultural Research Center.
Information to be added soon
1. Background
Abergelle Agricultural Research Center (AbARC), established in 1995 E.C. (2002 G.C.), is one of the research centers under Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). The mandate areas are the lowland (kolla) part of Seharti and Samre districts from the south-eastern zone, and Tanqua Mlash, Abergelle Yechila, Kolla Tembien, and Keyh Tekli districts from the central zone of Tigray. The center has five core processes: crop and horticulture research, small ruminant and fish research, natural resources management research, agricultural extension and socio-economic research, and support staff. The center is conducting various demand- and problem-based research activities on livestock, crops, natural resources, socio-economics, and extension. Moreover, the center is regionally mandated to lead and collaborate on the research conducted on small ruminants and fish.
2. Research capacity
Human capacity: The center has a total of 27 researchers (2 PhDs, 3 PhD candidates, 15 MScs, and 7 MScs), 25 support staff, and 14 data collectors.
Physical capacity: There is one experimental farm for small-ruminant at Abergelle Yechila district, four community-based goat breeding programs, two experimental and seed multiplication sites. The center owns a totaling of 29.5 ha being used for research activities on crops, forages, and natural resources, as well as technology multiplication. it has also about 0.5 ha of land which is serving as experimental site for research activies on fish. There is access for all weather road which crosses all the districts under the mandate of the center.
3. Major Research thematic areas
4. Brief research achievements so far
Small ruminant breeding
Feed resources and feeding systems
Animal health improvement
Fish production and productivity improvements
Improvement of crop production and productivity
Improvement of horticultural production and productivity
Forestry and agro forestry
Irrigation and drainage systems
Soil and water conservation
Socio economic and agricultural extension
5. Partnership
The center has been closely working with different partner institutions of both governmental and non governmental. Currently, the world bank funded program known as Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BoARD), Mekelle University, and Aksum University are active partners of the research center.
Contact address: Abergelle Agricultural Research Center (AbARC)
Phone: +25134460741
Fax: +251344461057
P.O.Box:44, Abi-Adi, Tigray, Ethiopia
Introduction
Increased crop production is mainly achieved through the management of the soil in a sustainable way. A fertile soil is needed to boost crop production. Soil research is an essential tool for sustainable land management, formulation of judicial fertilizer recommendations, advisory services as well as designing appropriate soil management and agronomic practices.
Mekelle Soil Research Center was established on February 2013 based on the development urgency and need in soil science research to increase soil and crop productivity. It is one of the research centers of Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). It consists of five case teams: Soil Fertility Research, Soil Microbiology Research, Soil Resources Survey and Mapping Research, Analytical Soil Laboratory and Administration & Finance.
Mission: “To conduct scientific research on soil resources that enables sustainably higher crop and forage production and provide analytical services in the required quality and quantity to give soil, plant and water analytical and management recommendations ”
Vision:“To become the center of excellence in soil research and to generate soil resources management technologies and enable farmers to use a soil and crop specific fertilizer recommendations by 2037”
Mandate : Southern Zone of Tigray, South Eastern Zone of Tigray, Eastern Zone of Tigray and some parts of Central Zone of Tigray (K.Tebben and T.Abergelle)
Thematic areas
Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Research
Soil Biology Research
Soil Resource Survey and Land Evaluation research
Analytical Laboratory Research and Testing Services
Some achievements of MSRC: Since its establishment and before, the soil related best practices generated are:
General Background
Agricultural Mechanization and Rural Energy Research Directorate is one of the five research Directorates under Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). The research directorate is mainly engaged in development-oriented research activities of different agricultural machineries and implements, post-harvest and feed processing technologies, renewable and biomass energy appliances.
Thematic (research) areas
Research pillar of the directorate
The Mekelle Bee Research and Training center (MBRC) was officially launched as center in July, 2020. The center is temporary based in the compound of Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). It is located North-east of Mekelle at an elevation of 1970 meters at 250 51’N latitude and 390 61’ longitudes. MBRTC has one testing and demonstration site adjacent to its main office. In addition, it has six demonstration sites located in different agro-ecologies of the region having good potential for beekeeping.
The center has 6 core processes.
Research Focus / Thematic Area
Manpower
The center has a total of 28 staff members.
Achievements
Although Tigray has immense beekeeping potentials, the benefits from the sector are often poorly utilized which lead to its low production and productivity. Regardless of the fact that the MBRC is at its infant stage, so far, it has conducted different research activities and provide valuable recommendation and direction to improve the apiculture sector in the region. It has been working to generate/develop valuable technologies /hard and soft/ in areas of;
Contact Address:
Mekelle Bee Research and Training center (MBRC)
Fax: (+251) 344-416122
P.O.Box:1070
Mekele, Tigray, Ethiopia
General Background (information is not complete)
Establishment of research in Tigray goes back to the 1970s. In 1972 there was severe meteorological and agricultural drought which resulted in crop failure, lack of feed and overall famine as well as death for several people and livestock. To visit the situation and seek possible assistance UN-FAO mission was sent to Northern Ethiopia (Tigray, Wollo, and Eritrea at that time) is 1973. After analyzing the situation the UN-FAO mission recommended establishment of research center in Tigray with possible testing sites in the drier areas of Ethiopia (Wollo, Tigray, Eritrea, Gonder, Godie, Werer… etc). then the then Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) extended its varietal screening research at Illala-Mekelle as a site for Holeta Research Center.
The UN-FAO Mission came back in early 1974 and assessed what has been done at Illala site and study reports of the Tigray Rural Developmen Study (TRDS) carried out by Hunting. The mission concluded that the northern region needs integrated natural resources management research beyond varietal screening. The mission recommended that UN-UNDP shall provide fund and UN_FAO should solicit scientists in different fields of profession.
With the recommendation of UN-FAO mission Mekelle research center was established in 1974. Up to 1976 multidisciplinary team from FAO (Dry land Farming Agronomist, Soil and Water Conservationist, Ecologist and appropriate implements Engineer) carried out integrated NRM Research and showed excellent start. Unfortunately because of the policy of the military Government at that time they were forced to leave Mekele and the country. the program was transferred to Nazreth Research Center and Mekelle remained merely as political symbol without meaningful activities. Finally, mekele Research Center was abandoned during the fall of the Military Government in 1990.
Mekelle Research Center was again rehabilitated in 1993 and staged with the then IAR-EARO up to 1998. Starting from 1998, following decentralization of research system in to regional Mekelle Research Center was decentralized as an independent region’s research institute. In 1999 Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) was established through Negarit Gazeta proclsmation No. 36/1999. Since the establishment of TARI, Mekelle Agricultural Research Center became one of the six agro-ecology based research centers under the institute that focused on dry land research activities.