On October 21, 2022, Haramaya University’s office of Vice President for Research Affairs held a consultative workshop in Harar City with relevant stakeholders regarding winter irrigation wheat seed development in Meta, Meyu Mulike, and Gole Oda districts of East Hararge Zone.
It was stated in the forum that Haramaya University is working with determination to ensure food security by finding wheat seeds suitable for the local climate and distributing them to the farmers.
Mr. Ayalew Takele, the Deputy Governor of East Hararge Zone, said that the government has decided to work hard domestically to substitute and reduce or stop importing wheat from abroad. Taking the good experience gained from the previous yield, we are discussing the plan for winter irrigation-based wheat production in Meta, Meyu Mulike, and Gole Oda districts of East Hararge Zone.
Mr. Ayalew added that, in the national effort to ensure food security by increasing production and productivity, Haramaya University is doing exemplary work by supporting farmers professionally and providing them with a variety of improved seeds. In 2015 too, activities are being done to produce wheat on 25,000 hectares of land in East Hararge Zone, and we hope that Haramaya University, along with zone and district experts and members of the community, will play a major role in the success of the plan.
Speaking on behalf of Haramaya University Vice President for Research Affairs, Dr. Chanyalew Seyoum, Director of Extension Research and Publication Directorate, explained that Haramaya University is discussing with concerned stakeholders the situations and problems related to winter irrigation-based wheat production and delivery to the users.
Dr. Chanyalew added that, according to the direction given by both the federal and Oromia regional governments to Haramaya University to do its part to ensure food security, the University is currently conducting research on winter irrigation-based wheat production in addition to carrying out capacity-building and awareness-creation activities. Moreover, wheat production research that Haramaya University master and doctorate students are conducting on 25 wheat varieties is additional effort for the success of the plan, according to Dr. Chanyalew.
Indicating that, in winter irrigation based wheat production, they produced 168 quintals of wheat and half a million quintals of wheat in 2013 and 2014 EC respectively, Mr. Getahun Nigatu, head of the East Hararge Zone Agriculture Office, said that they hope to produce more this year with the help of Haramaya University and other stakeholders to make both the pastoralists and the farmers self-sufficient in food grain.
During the winter irrigation based wheat seed production planned to be held in Meta, Mayu Muluke and Gola Oda districts in this year, an exchange of experience and consultation was held in Harar city with the relevant parties from the respective districts about the experiences in the districts, possible challenges and favorable conditions. At the end of the consultation forum, the representatives of East Hararge Zone, the three districts and Haramaya University signed a memorandum of understanding on how they should work together and their respective responsibilities.
