Over 63 thousand farmers utilize new agricultural technologies

Addis Ababa, 27 April 2014 (WIC) - Over 63 thousand farmers across the country have become beneficiaries of new agricultural technologies in the last nine months this Ethiopian fiscal year, Institute of Agricultural Research.

Public Relations Directorate Director of the Institute, Derese Teshome, told WIC that though the plan for the last nine months was making 57, 232 farmers beneficiary, the performance exceeded the plan by 6, 524.

According to Derese, the institute has imported 24 different types of best seed species, which increase not only the output and productivity but also suitability to the ecology of the country.

Trainings on how to utilize agricultural technologies have also given to 9, 475 farmers, pastoralists and semi-pastoralists in the last nine months, he said.

The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) has about 17 agricultural research centers, 835 researchers and 1234 assistant research technicians.