The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research ('EIAR)http://www.eiar.gov.et/ is a research institute for agricultural study in Ethiopia. has evolved through several stages since its initiation during the late 1940s, following the establishment of the agricultural and technical school of Ambo and Jimma. Until the mid-1960s the Imperial College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts—now Haramaya University—with its Agricultural Experiment Station at Bishoftu—now Debrezeit Agricultural Research Center—was the major research entity. The establishment of the then Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) in 1966 saw the first nationally coordinated agricultural research system in Ethiopia.The EIAR is a Federal Agricultural Research Institutes. EIAR is responsible for the running of federal research centers, and Regional research Institutes are administered by the Regional governments. In addition to conducting research at its federal centers, EIAR is charged with the responsibility for providing the overall coordination of agricultural research countrywide, and advising Government on agricultural research policy formulation.Currently, the EIAR comprises 20 research centers and sites located across various agro-ecological zones. The research centers have a mandate to coordinate different national commodities. Some of the research centers and sites have one or more sub-centers and testing sites, for example, the Essential Oils Research Center (EORC)..
Genome editing has changed plant biology and accelerated crop improvement. CRISPR/Cas9 allows precise and efficient genetic changes in many species. Still, Cas9 has limits like PAM restrictions, off-target effects, and varying editing success. This led to new systems. Editors like Cas12a, CasΦ, CasMINI, and CasX offer more targeting options, can edit RNA, and work better with hard to edit plant genomes. Precision tools such as base editors and prime editors make precise changes by swapping nucleotides or adding small pieces without cutting both DNA strands. This improves accuracy. Beyond single tools, combined and step by step editing methods can be used for handling complex traits controlled by many genes. Using several methods like CRISPR knockouts, base and prime editing, epigenome editing and recombinase systems-breeders can improve traits while reducing unwanted side effects. Stepwise editing helps to test changes, confirm their effects, and improve entire biological pathways. Combining these approaches with AI-driven analysis, target prediction, and design optimization makes it easier to pick the best genes and edits for desired traits. These advanced editing methods are used to boost stress tolerance, fight diseases, improve nutrition, increase yields, and enhance quality after harvest. Despite progress, problems remain with how efficient edits can be made, delivering tools into plants, reliance on specific genotypes, unclear regulations, and acceptance by society. Looking ahead, joying genome editing with AI, fast breeding techniques help develop stronger, high yielding crops and support global food security.
Chickpea shiro flour is widely used across both rural and urban areas of Ethiopia to prepare shiro-wot, a traditional stew typically consumed with injera. While the core processing steps, soaking and roasting, are consistently applied in traditional practice, key parameters such as soaking duration, roasting temperature, and roasting time have not been systematically optimized. This study aimed to optimize processing parameters like soaking time, roasting temperature, and roasting duration to produce high-quality chickpea shiro flour using response surface methodology. The effects of soaking time (25–112 min), roasting temperature (165.9–334.1 °C), and roasting duration (1.59–18.41 min) were evaluated with respect to dehulling efficiency, functional attributes, proximate composition, color, and consumer acceptability. Statistical modeling and ANOVA demonstrated that all three parameters significantly (p < 0.05) influenced critical quality parameters. Dehulling efficiency, degree of dehulling, split yield, and broken grain ranged 29.91
The Northern Ethiopian Highlands are a critical agroecological zone where climate change poses serious challenges to rainfed farming, yet the region’s climatic dynamics remain poorly quantified. This study addresses that gap by examining spatiotemporal trends in temperature, precipitation, and agroclimatic indices, Rainfall Onset Date (ROD), Cessation Date (RCD), and Growing Season Length (GSL) from 1981 to 2020. To overcome sparse station networks in complex terrain, we utilized the ENACTS dataset, providing a robust 4-km gridded product. Using an analytical framework integrating the Modified Mann–Kendall test, Theil–Sen slope estimator, Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA), and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), we detected significant (p < 0.05) warming trends across all stations. Mann-Kendall values for maximum (8.64–14.5) and minimum (1.45–2.07) temperatures confirmed monotonic warming over the 40 years. Precipitation trends were heterogeneous, with 75 This graphical abstract presents the spatiotemporal dynamics of climate and agroclimatic shifts in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands from 1981 to 2020. Using ENACTS data, the visualization presents statistical trends in rainfall and temperature analyzed through a multi-method framework involving the Modified Mann-Kendall test, ITA, and the Theil-Sen estimator. Variability indices, including the Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI), Coefficient of Variation (CV), and Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) are integrated to map the distribution of Rainfall Onset Date (ROD), Cessation Date (RCD), and Growing Season Length (GSL). The visualization indicates a pronounced east-west climate dipole, characterized by a spatial asymmetry in agroclimatic stability. The western region generally exhibits longer growing seasons and earlier rainfall onset, whereas the eastern sector shows drying trends and a higher frequency of contracted growing seasons. These patterns are presented as statistical associations consistent with regional atmospheric forcing and complex topography, not as deterministic predictions. The evidence suggests that addressing regional food security requires location-specific adaptation strategies that account for these divergent spatiotemporal trajectories Significant warming trends were detected in both Tmin and Tmax across all stations from 1981 to 2020. Rainfall declined markedly in the east; Meher season remained stable, and Belg became highly erratic. A novel east–west climate dipole identified using Mann-Kendall, ITA, and Theil-Sen methods. Rains start later and end earlier in the northeast, shortening the growing season length (GSL). Agroclimatic shifts threaten food security, demanding spatially targeted adaptation strategies.
In Ethiopia, maize production is significantly threatened by insect pests such as stalk borers and fall armyworm (FAW), as well as the major ear rots, notably Gibberella ear rot (GER) and Fusarium ear rot (FER). Smallholder farmers, particularly those operating in resource-limited environments, often lack effective and accessible pest management strategies. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of using the "push-pull" (PP)-cropping system, which involves inter-cropping (maize) with insect-repellent forage legume in the genus Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum) as a "push" plant and the Brecaria grass (Brachiaria decumbens) forage as the "pull" plant on the incidence of maize stalk borers and FAW and the intensity of GER and FER at Bako, western Ethiopia. Field trials with the cropping systems (maize cropping in the PP-system, maize mono-cropping, and maize mono-cropping with insecticide/Radiant 120SC-treatment) randomized to the main plot units and three hybrid maize varieties randomized to the sub-plot units were arranged in a split-plot design with three replications during the main cropping seasons of 2021 to 2022. Three maize hybrids (BH546, BH549, and P3812W) were planted in subplots at a spacing of 75 × 30 cm in four rows with a 10 m row length. The incidence and severity of GER and FER, were recorded upon manual harvest at physiological maturity. Some important agronomic traits were also recorded during the maize growing seasons. The analysis of variance confirmed highly significant (P < 0.001) interaction among cropping systems and maize hybrid varieties in both seasons. However, no significant interactions were indicated among the cropping seasons for stalk borer, foliar damage p = 0.116, ear damage, p = 0.429 and FAW; foliar damage, p = 0.925, ear damage, p = 0.446 as well as ear rots severity; FER, p = 0.778 and GER, p = 0.054 were observed between the cropping seasons. Among the tested varieties, BH546 recorded significantly (P < 0.001) lower insect infestation and ear rot disease intensity (FER and GER) with the PP-cropping system and Radiant 120SC insecticide treatment when compared to the non-treated mono-cropping system. Additionally, the PP-cropping system improved agronomic traits such as grain yield, plant height, ear height, ear length, ear diameter and kernel characteristics (grain weight), particularly using the BH546 hybrid, suggesting that hybrid selection is critical to maximizing the benefits of inter-cropping strategies. This finding imply that the strategy could be further verified on the small holder farmers field before recommending to be used by small-holder farmers in major maize-growing regions in Ethiopia.
Land use and agricultural intensification are the main causes of ecological degradation and the loss of terrestrial biodiversity. Plant diversity research can be carried out in areas where different land use types coexist with fragmented habitats. This study examines how Enset-based land use systems, particularly Jefore, influence Enset and plant diversity and land use patterns in the Dudye watershed of the Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia. The study was done through interviews with experienced ethnobotanical farmers and field observation. Purposively selected 21 Enset farms, 3 Jefore, 3 homesteads, 14 crops, 14 grasslands, and 14 woodlot areas were used in the study. Biodiversity was assessed using Biodiversity Index (BI), Frequency (F), Relative Frequency (RF), and Relative Density (RD). Results revealed that Jefore, a communal land resource equitably shared among villagers, plays a central role in sustaining ecological and social balance. Homestead areas supported 14 diverse plant species serving multiple functions such as food, medicinal and multipurpose uses while field and ethnobotanical assessments identified 29 distinct Enset (Ensete ventricosum) landraces. Among these, Anqefuye was the most dominant (BI = 0.36, F = 100
