HU, GIZ organize a Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Strengthening Soybean, Avocado and Onion value chains in Sidama Regional state.

Hawassa University in collaboration with GIZ has organized a Multi-Stakeholder platform on strengthening soybean, avocado and onion value chains in Sidama Regional State on March 12 & 13, 2024 at Central Hawassa Hotel.

HU President, Dr. Ayano Beraso, stated in his opening speech that agriculture is the university's primary research area and collaborations with partner universities, government organization, and NGOs including ways to support government policy and strategies in linking researchers with farmers and markets or agro-industries. He remarked that Strengthening the Rural Value Chain (SRVC) on Soybean, onion and avocado in Sidama region is among the several collaborative projects HU is currently running with an objective to improve the income and employment opportunities of farmers and other actors in selected districts of the region. Dr. Ayano added that considering the potentials and gaps of these crops in the Sidama region and taking its rich experience in the value chain, HU is putting efforts to reduce the challenges encountered by producers by implementing the intended interventions in collaboration with GIZ.

Dr. Bayou Bunkura, University-Industry Linkage director of HU and SRVC project PI, in his presentations on soybean progress updates and core activities mentioned that the priority gaps in the soybean value chain are luck of access to agricultural inputs, backward production technologies that are incompatible with the local agro ecology and less knowledge among the community for domestic consumption of the products.

During the program, SRVC project overview from GIZ on private sector engagement progress, testimony of farmers, and regional BoA technical assessment reports were presented.

Dr. Amsalu Gobena, Co-PI of the project and a senior researcher of plant and horticulture sciences at College of Agriculture, on his part, presented the progress and core activities on avocado focusing on evaluation of avocado rootstock for drought, solidarity and disease tolerances. He also presented challenges related to agroecology and poor oil quality of avocado and interventions made so far.

Finally plenary discussions, reflections, questions and answers were raised on the issues before conclusion.