1. General Background
Abergelle Agricultural Research Center (AbARC), established in 1995 E.C. (2002 G.C.), is one of the research centers under Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). The mandate areas are the lowland (kolla) part of Seharti and Samre districts from the south-eastern zone, and Tanqua Mlash, Abergelle Yechila, Kolla Tembien, and Keyh Tekli districts from the central zone of Tigray. The center has five core processes: crop and horticulture research, small ruminant and fish research, natural resources management research, agricultural extension and socio-economic research, and support staff. The center is conducting various demand- and problem-based research activities on livestock, crops, natural resources, socio-economics, and extension. Moreover, the center is regionally mandated to lead and collaborate on the research conducted on small ruminants and fish.
2. Research capacity
Human capacity: The center has a total of 27 researchers (2 PhDs, 3 PhD candidates, 15 MScs, and 7 MScs), 25 support staff, and 14 data collectors.
Physical capacity: There is one experimental farm for small-ruminant at Abergelle Yechila district, four community-based goat breeding programs, two experimental and seed multiplication sites. The center owns a totaling of 29.5 ha being used for research activities on crops, forages, and natural resources, as well as technology multiplication. it has also about 0.5 ha of land which is serving as experimental site for research activies on fish. There is access for all weather road which crosses all the districts under the mandate of the center.
3. Major Research thematic areas
4. Brief research achievements so far
4.1. Achievements in Livestock Research
Small ruminant breeding
Feed resources and feeding systems
Animal health improvement
Fish production and productivity improvements
4.2. Achievements in Crop Research
Improvement of crop production and productivity
Improvement of horticultural production and productivity
4.3. Achievements in Natural Resources Research
Forestry and agro forestry
Irrigation and drainage systems
Soil and water conservation
4.4. Achievements in Socioeconomic and extension Research
5. Partnership
The center has been closely working with different partner institutions of both governmental and non governmental. Currently, the world bank funded program known as Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BoARD), Mekelle University, and Aksum University are active partners of the research center.
Contact address: Abergelle Agricultural Research Center (AbARC)
Phone: +25134460741
Fax: +251344461057
P.O.Box:44, Abi-Adi, Tigray, Ethiopia
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