1. General Background of Mekelle Agricultural Research Center (MARC)
The roots of agricultural research in Tigray can be traced back to the devastating drought of 1972. This catastrophe, marked by crop failures, lack of animal feed and widespread famine, prompted a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) mission to visit northern Ethiopia (including Tigray, Wollo, and Eritrea) in 1973. Following a thorough assessment, the UN-FAO mission recommended establishing a research center in Tigray, with potential testing sites in other drought-prone areas of Ethiopia. The then Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) initially expanded its varietal screening research at Illala-Mekelle, a site affiliated with the Holeta Research Center. Recognizing the need for a broader approach, the UN-FAO mission returned in 1974. They evaluated the progress at Illala and reviewed findings from the Tigray Rural Development Study (TRDS). This evaluation led them to conclude that the region required integrated natural resources management (NRM) research that went beyond just testing different crop varieties. The mission recommended that the UN Development Programme (UNDP) provide funding, and that the UN-FAO recruit scientists with expertise in various disciplines.
With this crucial backing, the Mekelle Research Center was established in 1974. Initially, a multidisciplinary team from FAO provided valuable expertise in dryland farming, soil and water conservation, ecology, and the development of appropriate farming implements. This collaborative effort laid a strong foundation for integrated NRM research. Unfortunately, due to political circumstances, the FAO team left in 1976, and the program shifted to Nazreth Research Center. The Mekelle center remained inactive until its rehabilitation in 1993. Following the decentralization of the research system in 1998, it became an independent regional research center. In 1999, with the establishment of the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) through Negarit Gazeta proclamation No. 36/1999, the MARC became one of its six core facilities. Since then, it has focused on dryland agricultural research, playing a pivotal role in improving agricultural practices throughout the region.
MARC boasts a highly trained researchers with expertise across various disciplines, ensuring they can effectively address demand-driven research projects. The departments are arranged in research core process
2. Organizational setup and capacity:
The center has been organized under four research thematic areas named as research core processes MARC boasts a highly trained researchers with expertise across various disciplines, ensuring they can effectively address demand-driven research projects.
The center possesses a diverse network of experimental sites strategically located across Mekelle, Gerba Gifa, Wukro, and Adigrat. These sites provide researchers with a variety of environmental conditions to conduct real-world experiments, fostering the development of adaptable and regionally relevant solutions.
3. Mission and Focus
Mission: To improve agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods in Tigray through research, capacity building, and technology dissemination.
Research focus: Crops, livestock, natural resource management, and socioeconomics, and research extension
Research Mandates
4. Research Core Processes in Action
4.1. Crop Research Core Process
The MARC Crop Research Core Process (CRCP) has been a driving force in Tigray's agricultural development. As one of the active research program in the region, the CRCP focuses on generating and adapting crop technologies for diverse agro-ecologies. The CRCP prioritizes solutions for drought-prone areas, depleted natural resources, and biotic constraints, all factors often exacerbated by climate change. Their work aims to alleviate food insecurity, improve crop productivity, and build climate-resilient agriculture, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction and economic prosperity in Tigray's dryland.
The CRCP plays a crucial role in seed multiplication, ensuring a continuous supply of various early generation seeds (EGS) for different crops. They also maintain varietal purity (both newly released and established varieties) through the production of breeder and pre-basic seeds, which form the foundation for further seed multiplication cycles. By facilitating the multiplication of newly released varieties and making them readily available to seed producers and farmers, the CRCP ensures faster access to improved crop varieties, allowing farmers to capitalize on the advancements in crop breeding programs. Early generation seed production serves two key purposes: maintaining the genetic potential and identity of a variety and providing a regular supply of high-quality breeder seed for subsequent large-scale seed production. This ensures farmers consistently receive high-performing seeds with the desired genetic traits.
Research Thematic areas
Major Research Projects
4.2. Livestock Research Core Process
Ethiopia's vast livestock sector, a key source of income and one-third of agricultural GDP, grapples with low productivity. Despite contributing to food security, current consumption of meat, milk, and eggs falls short of global averages. To address this, the Mekelle Agricultural Research Center's Livestock Core Process, with its dedicated poultry, cattle, small ruminant, and fishery case teams, is working to improve the production and supply of these essential products. This focus on boosting productivity is expected to strengthen food security, reduce reliance on imports, and generate new jobs.
Research Thematic Areas
4.3. Natural Resource Research Core Process
Natural Resources Research core process is one of the four researches core processes of Mekelle Agricultural Research Center. This core process is mainly affianced in implementation of different researches in the fields of irrigation and water resources management, soil and water conservation and watershed development, forestry and agro-forestry and GIS and agro-meteorology researches.
Research thematic areas
Research activities on forestry and agroforestry
4.4. Socio Economic and Extension core process
The Tigray region faces unique socioeconomic challenges that influence how extension research is conducted. Most of Tigray's population relies on rain-fed agriculture for subsistence and income. This makes them vulnerable to droughts and erratic rainfall patterns. Years of deforestation and overgrazing have contributed to soil erosion, reducing agricultural productivity. Farmers often lack access to improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, and credit facilities, hindering their ability to adopt new technologies. A significant portion of Tigray's population lives below the poverty line, limiting their capacity to invest in agricultural improvements. MARC's socioeconomic and extension research aims to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance community development outcomes.
5. Contributions of MARC to Tigray Agriculture
6. Future aspiration
7. MARC Partnerships
Mekelle Agricultural Research Center executes research projects, shares knowledge, and translates findings into practical solutions for local communities. The center fosters collaboration to amplify its impact and partnering with non-governmental and governmental organizations such as:
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