1
. Organizational profile
Topography
Climate
Soil
Vegetation
Farming System
1.1.
Description of Eastern Ethiopia
Haramaya university is surrounded by five regional governments,
viz. Somali Regional State (population = 697 454), Harari Region
(population = 169 307), Dire Dawa Administrative Council (population
= 267 762), and East and West Hararghe (2 908 649) Regions.
The rural population is by far higher than the urban population.
The average family size is 6-7 and the average family land holding
is about 0.25ha. In the region, as a whole, agriculture is subsistence
in its nature. The level of input being used by the farmers
is very low and it is dominantly rain fed. Illiteracy is rampant
and poverty is the accepted fact of their daily livelihood
Topography
Eastern Ethiopia, commonly called the Hararghe Region, covers
an area of 263,195 km2 which accounts about 21.1 percent of the
total national area. The three major ecological zones are the
eastern highlands, the Awash lowlands, and the Ogaden lowlands.
The eastern highlands can be further divided into two broad ecological
zones, namely, the Hararghe highlands and the Chercher highlands.
Despite the immense geographical distribution, the highlands (>1500
masl) are limited and cover only one-seventh of the total area,
but support 80% of the population. This indicates that the population
pressure is high and the existence of shortage of arable land
in the region. Much of the region lies between 500 and 1500 meters
above sea level and characterized by erratic and low rainfall.
Climate
Considering
the climatic condition of the region, suitability for agricultural
development in general and favourability for crop production
in particular do decline from north to south and from west to
east being governed by the relief. There is a wide variation
in climatic conditions between the highlands and the lowlands.
The highland areas are characterized by tropical climate where
the winter is dry. The average monthly temperatures in the highlands
do not vary much during the year with the coldest temperature
of 3 oC to 18 oC. The highland areas get more rainfall (950-1500
mm) than the lowlands in the south and extreme north (150 -
400mm. The lowlands, particularly those in the arid (desert)
and semi-arid climate, are characterized by evaporation rates
that exceed precipitation.
Soil
Soils
of the highland are predominantly eutric nitosol and chromic
fluvisol on the slopes and chromic vertisols in the valley (AU,
1986). Coupled with low use of fertilized and complete removal
of crop residues from the field, the cultivation of highly sloped
areas has resulted in severe soil erosion. To this are added,
high runoff and poor land permeability. Annual soil loss from
cropped lands amount about 50 to 150 t/ha on slopes up to 40%,
and 155-250 t/ha on steeper slopes. Consequently, land slides
and big gullies are common in the highlands of the region.
Vegetation
The
high land areas of the region are characterized by vegetation
which include mountain savanna, dry mountain forest, bush formation
and low land woods which are mainly evergreen and of widely
variable composition. The region has only 0.29 per cent of its
area covered by forests and woodlands, making it one of the
regions of the country which have lost almost all of its vegetation
cover (AU, 1986). The loss of forest sources was partially severe
in this part of the country where population pressure has been
intense for many centuries
Farming
System
In
the region, the most dominant agricultural activity is livestock
herding of the lowlands followed by sedentary mixed farming
of the high lands. The lowland that consists of the largest
area of eastern Ethiopia support around 20% of the population
whose livelihood is based on livestock rearing. In the highland,
crop based mixed is the predominant agricultural practice. Cereals
occupy over 80% of the total area cropped to annual crops with
average yield of 1.2t/ha. Of the cereals, sorghum is widely
cultivated crop (about 40% of the total annual cropped land)
and staples food of the majority of the farmers. It is followed
by maize, pulses and other crops. In some areas with good transportation
and irrigation facilities farmers are producing different types
of vegetables such as potato, tomato, onion, leek etc for export
to Djibouti and Somali land.
Agricultural
productivity in the region is generally very low. Major soil
and water related agricultural problems in eastern Ethiopia
include, inter alia, soil erosion or soil degradation, low and
poor distribution of rainfall, soil moisture stress, poor drainage,
salinity and sodicity. In the region, indiscriminate forest
clearing, complete removal of crop residues, uncontrolled grazing,
inadequate or absence of soil and water conservation measures
or inappropriate soil and water management practices, etc.,
have contributed to soil erosion and overall land and water
degradation.
1.2.
Powers and duties
According to the transitional government of Ethiopia Council of
Ministers regulation number 198/1994 the powers and duties of
Haramaya university are:
1. To establish and run faculties, colleges and other academic
and research units;
2. To design and implement undergraduate and graduate programs,
3. To confer academic certificate, diplomas, and degrees as well
as medals, prizes and titles for excellence and meritorious contributions;
4. To organize seminars, workshops, and symposiums
5. To establish relations with other foreign sister universities,
research institutions and organizations having similar objectives;
6. To establish and publish academic journals and news letters;
7. To own property;
8. To enter to contracts;
9. To sue and be sued in its own name;
10. To carry out activities as are necessary for the attainment
of its objectives
1.3. Studies
and research directions
According
to the Higher Education Proclamation (Number 351/2003) the studies
and research directions of Haramaya University are given below:
1. Shall identify research area to be prioritized on the bases
of the need of the country and in consultation with appropriate
bodies;
2. Shall undertake research that:-
a) Take into account the need of the country and enables to equip
with scientific knowledge;
b) Equips students and trainees with basic knowledge that enables
them to undertake practical studies and research.
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
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