Canadian University Projects in International Development Database (CUPID)

Africa

Ethiopia

• Low Input Sustainable Agriculture in the Rift Valley
• Sustainable Rural Agriculture Development

Sustainable Rural Agriculture Development

Project purpose:
The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the Awassa College of Agriculture of Hawassa University to conduct agricultural research and deliver training that will lead to sustainable food security in rural Ethiopia.

Key results to date:
Curricula for 35 new courses in the MSc program in Animal and Plant Sciences and Applied Human Nutrition at Hawassa University (HU) were developed and are fully operational. Nine professors upgraded their teaching and research skills. Of the 438 MSc students (364 M, 74 F) registered during the life of the project, 148 graduated by project closure. The M.Sc. supported 42 applied research projects and the library collection increased by 171 books, 160 periodicals and over 18,000 pages of recent articles. Career development for Ethiopian females was enhanced by providing a fellowship for a female faculty member to upgrade her computer skills at the University of Saskatchewan, and through supporting nine female graduate students. Female Ethiopian farmers were provided with training sessions on production system technology. At least 337 farmers (192 M, 145 F) participated in field days, learning safer environmental methods. A baseline survey to evaluate impacts of the project on the lives of people within the watersheds in Wolayta showed improved farming practices after training. Retention and employment of graduates is high. The project organized a major conference Awassa 2009 to promote dissemination and knowledge exchange. As a result of this project, a DelPHE grant was awarded to establish a PhD program in Agricultural Science at HU to build on the master's program strengthened by the project. 2A Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) grant was awarded in 2010. This grant is funded by CIDA-IDRC to continue capacity building with the Hawasssa Univ. 'Improving food security in the highlands of Ethiopia through improved and sustainable agricultural productivity and human nutrition' Specifically this project (2010-2012) includes establishing a PhD program in Agricultural Science and supporting and improving the current research and teaching (MSc) capacity at Hawassa Univ. Other initiatives resulted in the expansion of the project beyond the College of Agriculture to include links with the HU nursing faculty and collaboration with veterinary medicine.

Low Input Sustainable Agriculture in the Rift Valley

Project purpose:
The project aimed at increasing Ethiopia's capacity to better manage its soil resources by allowing farmers to grow crops sufficient for their own needs and to increase their income level.

Key results to date:
A local network supporting a geographic information system (GIS) software was successfully established at the National Soil Research Centre to enable the three Ethiopian institutions to share knowledge on research and development for innovative and environmentally sustainable technologies; 22 Ethiopians, including four women, were trained in HTML, ion exchange technology and GIS; four Ethiopian students (one female) received MSc training; laboratories and libraries were upgraded; the curriculum for animal sciences and crop production for Awassa College of Agriculture's new postgraduate program has been jointly reviewed; research was initiated to test soil management and agronomic practices; experiments were conducted on farmers' fields at two locations; and a special credit course was developed for Canadian students as part of the study-abroad program of the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan.