Project News

A JICA mission stayed in Ethiopia from 14 to 25 Mar, 2011. As a part of their field trip, they visited Debre Zeit ARC, Melkassa ARC and Fantale Irrigation Scheme.

At Debre Zeit Agriculture Research Center, they visited and monitored the activities of another JICA Project "Quality Seed Promotion Project", and observed their research plots on seed and newly established seed inspection laboratory building at A'daa Woreda.

Then, they moved onto Melkassa ARC and the researchers briefed the vegetable seed situation around Melkassa ARC and shown their onion seed multiplication field. Seed prices, quality assurance, deterioration of newly introduced varieties in quality are some of the issues of seed system.

After Melkassa ARC, the mission visited FRG farmers at Awash Bishola. A FRG farmer explained her experience and future prospects of vegetable FRG and vegetable seed FRG. She explained that her group closely worked with Melkassa ARC to ensure the quality of seed, which attracted many customers. The group was planning to expand from 4 seed growers at present to 8 in order to meet the demand.

The mission lastly visited Fantale Irrigation Scheme (Ilala Area) where farmers newly started vegetable production. They are growing onions basically for bulb, however, depending on the market prices, they postpone harvest and sell them as seeds.

Pot trial on teff seeds, QSPP, D/Z ARC

Onion seed multiplication field, MARC

A woman farmer working with vegetable FRG, vegetable seed FRG, and daily FRG

Onion field at Ilala area, Fantale Irrigation Scheme