On November 2, 2024, the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS) Agricultural Working Group (AWG) organized an Executive and Technical Sub-committee leads. The objective of the meeting is to foster greater engagement among EAS agriculture fellows, leveraging their collective expertise to drive impactful contributions to the agricultural sector.
The executive meeting was moderated by Dr. Mulugeta Mekuria, who noted that the meeting is aimed to unite experts from various agricultural backgrounds in a working group dedicated to driving agricultural innovation and creating advisory frameworks in Ethiopia.
Professor Belay Kassa, President of the EAS and Fellow of the AWG, in his opening remarks, pointed out that this gathering is to harness the vast expertise within AWG and create a strong, unified force in advancing agricultural research and innovation in Ethiopia. He added that by strengthening our engagement and collaboration, we can collectively tackle the sector’s most pressing challenges and amplify the impact of our work across the country.
Dr. Getachew Gebru, the working group’s Chairperson, articulated the goal of developing strategies that engage both regular and associate members to tackle the pressing issues facing Ethiopian agriculture. To accomplish this, specialized technical groups were formed in critical areas including animal and veterinary sciences, agricultural economics, plant science, and natural resources and forestry. He highlighted the pivotal role these groups will play in contributing towards national agricultural policy and research. In the long-term view, it is anticipated that the technical sub-committees of AWG, will be vital contributors to future National Agricultural Advisory Board/Council.
Dr. Getachew also emphasized the collaboration between the working group and the Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) which showcased the establishment of the Ethiopian Agriculture Professional Societies Alliance (EAPSA), which is aimed at uniting members from diverse agricultural sectors to contribute to Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation.
Furthermore, the working group has prioritized key areas of studies which included evaluating irrigation scheme performance, exploring food import substitution opportunities, and assessing the role of agricultural cooperatives in enhancing market access for smallholder farmers. Additionally, plans are underway to explore how best to integrate agricultural university graduates with commercial agriculture; and to address the Desert Locust Scourge in Ethiopia, through developing proactive approaches for prevention and control.
Dr. Workneh Ayalew presented the TOR of the technical sub-committees within the AWG and emphasized that this undertaking is to foster broader engagement, as many fellows and associate fellows are not yet fully involved in current activities. The agriculture sector’s pressing challenges require a united approach, yet limited forums and engagement methods have previously hindered active participation. The Technical sub-committees, he added, are designed to address these gaps, facilitating more effective collaboration and collective problem-solving within the AWG.
At the meeting, the technical sub-committee leads, carefully selected by the AWG for their long history of contributions to sciences, national and global stature, and integrity were joined by EAS high-level representatives, the AWG EC, Senior Advisors, and EAS. The sub-committee leads expressed their appreciation, and readiness and commitment in creating an engaging platform to assist the fellows of the working group to meaningfully contribute to Research and policies and practices in Ethiopian agriculture.
During his closing statement, Prof. Teketel Yohannes, the Executive Director of the EAS, expressed his appreciation for the active participation and valuable insights by all and pointed out that this laid a strong foundation, and it is through such collective expertise and commitment that lasting impact on Ethiopia’s agricultural policy is realized. He also highlighted the value of ensuring that the working group’s activities reflect the Academy’s vision, goals, and mission, as well as the key themes of the Academy’s Third Strategic Plan.