The Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (EAAPP) held a launching workshop form 2 to4 August at Kulumsa Research Center (KRC) of Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). The central theme of the launching workshop was to familiarize stakeholders and partners on the essence of EAAPP, on research implementation plan for the Wheat Regional Center of Excellence (WRCoE),

dairy, rice and cassava research development and expectations from the Project, agricultural extension and technology transfer system of Ethiopia, EAAPP implementation arrangements, project financing and budget, M&E, regional coordination of EAAP, areas of collaboration in research and development projects and initiatives, and gender mainstreaming in EAAPP.

EAAP has the following components:

Component 1: Strengthening Regional Center of Excellence, with sub-components of support to research infrastructure; and human resources capacity building,

Component 2: Support to Research, Training and with sub components of technology generation and training and dissemination.

component 3: Improved Availability of Seeds and Livestock Breeding Materials with sub components of increased availability of seeds and breeding materials; support to business development; and support to harmonization of policies and regulations.

Comopnet 4: Project management and M&E with sub component of project management; and Project M&E,

The overall project outputs are:

·       Improved technologies are available to the users at the required quality and quantity;

·       Strong linkage is created along the value chain of the selected commodities;

·       Capacity of the support institutions enhanced; and

·       National and regional partnership strengthened

Based on the above, a launching workshop was held in KRC from 2-4 August 2010. Participants were drawn from EIAR, Regional Agricultural research Institutes, Higher learning Institutions, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, The World bank, GAIAR Centers, Private Sectors, and NGOs.

The meeting was welcomed by Dr Solomon Asefa, Director General of EIAR. In his remark The DG stated that this gathering is symbolic, in that regional centers of excellences for Wheat, Rice and Dairy were identified with respect to the objectives of EAAP. He also stated that It is one of the essential phenomena that growth in agricultural productivity is the function of dynamic and multiplex roles agriculture plays in the context of Africa’s economic development paradigm. As it is the primary source of income for more than two-thirds of the population.

Based on the above, a launching

HE Dr Abeba Deressa the State Minister of MoARD I on his part mentioned that through EAAP, the common agricultural problems will be unidentified and solutions accrued and shared across the boundaries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia where EAAP is operating. He also assured participants that as KRC is identified as a WRCoE due attention will be given by the Government. Assuming this task means there are lots of issues to be addressed, thus, researchers and all stakeholders should stay alert to reach to the anticipated goals of the Project.

In a keynote address by representative of the World Bank Country Director, it was stressed that as agriculture in the region is constrained by several factors, the generation and transfer of improved technologies, information and other necessary packages should be an agenda on the forefront by all concerned in EAAPP. He also mentioned that the Project is designed solely to support and as a consequence bring about prosperity in the countries selected to be beneficiary of EAAPP. In his final words, he cautioned that all key stakeholders of the Project should be involved factitively to be able to meet its objectives.

To be able to pursue change leading to durable solutions and ensure continued access to adequate; appropriate research materials and improved technologies for the farming communities; develop working conditions for resources to anticipate and respond to changes, challenges and opportunities in the research for development scale; and utilize mutually accountable research for development expertise across the boarders of the countries; I believe this is one of the paths to be taken.