1. Introduction

1.1. Organizational Background

1.1. Brief history

Agricultural research in Ethiopia began in the early 1950s, following the Point Four General Agreement for Technical Cooperation between the United States of America and the Ethiopian Empire, signed in Addis Ababa on June 16, 1951; leading to the establishment of the Imperial College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (IECAMA) (now Haramaya University) patterned after the then Oklahoma College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts which later became Oklahoma State University. The original American staff of the IECAMA initiated historically significant agricultural field experiments in Ethiopia in the 1953 crop season. The founding experimental sites were at Jimma, Shashamene, and Addis Ababa. The first trials emphasized introduction of improved varieties and germplasm from the USA, which in general, did not perform well. The bulk of the early agricultural research in Ethiopia was done at Jimma by the staff and students of the then Jimma Agricultural and Technical School (JATS) since the Alemaya College was not established until the late 1950s. Some of the significant and noteworthy early agricultural research at JATS focused on plant taxonomy, plant pathology, agronomy, horticulture, coffee, dairy and beef cattle husbandry, poultry, and agricultural engineering. Many of the original research and trials at JATS served as the nucleus and foundation of agricultural technology generation and transfer in Ethiopia. LECAMA itself relied a lot on the initial work done by JATS when it started its full complement of activities in the late 1950s.

By the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, the IECAMA had become fully operational with four academic departments: Animal Science, Plant Science, Agricultural Economics, and Agricultural Engineering. Each of the four academic departments conducted research and extension in addition to their core teaching responsibilities of research, extension, and teaching patterned after the Land Grant Model so well established and successful in the USA. Among the early research and technology demonstration centers operated by the IECAMA were: Andasa (near Bahir Dar) for cattle breeding; Debre Birhan for sheep breeding; Alamata for plantation crops improvement; Alemaya for multipurpose research center; Debre Zeit for crops and poultry; and Jimma for multipurpose research center. Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center continued to be one of the strongest University research center until it was officially transferred to the then Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization in 1997.

Alemaya University was renamed Haramaya University in 2006. Currently, the University has the following colleges, faculties and schools: College of Agriculture, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Business Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Technology, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Continuing & Distance Education and School of Graduate Studies. The current academic staff and student population is about 21,000 and 400, respectively. The University has four campuses. Haramaya is the main campus, while Diredawa, Harar and Jijiga are satellite campuses.

Campuses

Haramaya University has two campus premises in two different places. The main campus, where the first milestone was laid, is Haramaya Campus. This campus is located situated in the semi-arid tropical belt of eastern Ethiopia at 42o 03’ E longitude, 9o 24’ N latitude and at an altitude of 1980 m.a.s.l. and at bout 510kms east of Addis Ababa, in-between Dire Dawa, and Harar towns. This is the nerve centre of the university where the offices of the management of the institution are located. Furthermore, on this premise are found the Research and Extension Office, School of Graduate Studies, College of Agriculture, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Faculty of Continuing Education.
The second one is Harar campus, a newly emerging university premise, located in Harar town where the Faculty of Health was transferred to in September 2003. At present, Haramaya University is undertaking tremendous tasks of expansion to accommodate the fast growing student and staff population. The construction of dormitories, classrooms, offices, laboratories, cafeterias, libraries, staff residences, etc. is a huge project that the university is engaged in with a big mobilization of resources. So far the campus expansion activities are bearing fruits and the achievements are remarkable.

Contact Information

Telephone 
     251-025-5530324
FAX 
     251-025-5530325/31/54
Postal address
    Haramaya University
Research and Extension Office
     P.O.BOX 138
     Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Electronic mail
     General Information: research@haramaya.edu.et