Project Launching Workshop, "Enhancing Soybean, Avocado and Onion Value Chain in Sidama Region, Ethiopia".

Hawassa University organized launching workshop for a collaborative project with German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on "Enhancing Soybean, Avocado and Onion Value Chain in Sidama Region, Ethiopia".

During his welcome note, V/President for Research & Technology Transfer at HU, Dr. Tafesse Matewos highlighted the university's longstanding experience in securing and properly managing collaborative projects with local, regional and international partners. He mentioned that 15 new projects worth millions were launched just last year, and thanked the collaborators for choosing to work with HU and appreciated the university staff for their dedication and commitment to contribute to the capacity building efforts of the university. He said that GIZ is among the top partners working on multiple projects focused on agriculture, education, socioeconomic issues, and strengthening HU's community engagement efforts.

Mr. Abiy Amanuel, GIZ Regional Coordination Office Manager, then briefed the audience on the project underscoring the fact that strengthening agricultural value chains on avocado, onion and soyabean is among the national priorities of Ethiopia. He stated that Ministies of Agriculture &Trade, regional bureaus of agriculture, EIAR, and universities are partners for the project worth €20 million being implemented from 2021 - 2024. Mr. Abiy elaborated on the challenges and potentials of Ethiopia 's agricultural sector as a core sector in the national economy. He said the country has fast growing young population with the need for 2 million additional jobs every year, and the agricultural sector is challenged by poor technological advancement and less productivity even worsened by weak value chains.

Two researchers from Hawassa university, Dr. Amsalu Gobena and Dr. Bayou Bunkura, presented the project's intervention strategy including selection of crop variety and suitable agroecology for production sites, market linkages and capacity building implementation plans with the aim of gathering feedback from stakeholders on the procedures and feasibility of those elements. Core stakeholders were also established during the launching workshop.

Stakeholders to the project were invited from private companies, regional and district agriculture officials, the academia (university & research institute) and local producers.