Ethiopia

et-map-2 Population: 99.5 M
GDP per capita: $1,600
Feed the Future country? Yes
Involvement in this country since: 2009 

Challenges:
·    Threats from invasive species
·    Drought and poor water management
·    Low crop yield
·    Environmental degradation

Related Projects:

Biological Control of Invasive Weed Parthenium hysterophorus in East Africa

Dissemination of knowledge and information has led to environmental safety awareness, reduced malnutrition (especially among women and children,) and higher economic benefits as a result of reduced pesticide applications.

Vegetable Crops IPM for East Africa

Focuses on implementing and disseminating IPM strategies to combat pests of vegetable crops in East Africa, such as tomato, onion, African eggplant, cabbage, chilies, and beans.

IPM for Rice, Maize, and Chickpea in East Africa

Focuses on implementing and disseminating IPM strategies to combat pests of staple crops rice, maize, and chickpea in East Africa.

Previous Accomplishments:

  1. Biological control agents released: In July 2014, the bioagent Zygogramma bicolorata was released to control the invasive species Parthenium hysterophorus.
  2. Rearing bioagents: Populations of leaf-feeding beetles (Zygogramma bicolorata) and stem-boring weevils (Listronotus setosipennis) were reared and increased under quarantine.
  3. Establishment of quarantine facility and breeding cages: This project established the first official quarantine facility and weed biological control program and research facility in Ethiopia. It is now serving as a training center on the management of quarantine facilities and biological control, with 75 students and researchers already trained.
  4. Workshops held: The project held workshops on Parthenium management for researchers and extension agents.
  5. Long-term training: The project supported seven M.S.-seeking graduate students, three of them female, and trained five Ethiopians in South Africa in the rearing and testing of biological control agents and quarantine procedures.
  6. Awareness posters in multiple languages: Posters to create awareness of the health impact of Parthenium were published in English, Amharic, Oromiffa, Tigrigan, and Somali.