At the invitation of Dr. Adugna Wakjira, deputy director general of crop research in EIAR (Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research) and Prof. Joshua Ondura Ogendo, dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Egerton University, Kenya, three professors from institute of vegetable science, Cao Jiashu, Lu Gang and Yu Xiaolin paid an academic visit to the Ethiopia and Kenya from Jan. 19th to 29th, 2016.
During the visit in Ethiopia, they exchanged the research achievement by academic lecture and forum with the researchers of Holetta Agricultural Research Centre. Subsequently, they visited molecular labs, agronomy farm, greenhouses and genetic resource nursery, etc. Apart from these, they communicated and discussed with each other about study and utilization of germplasm in Brassica crops, and achieved preliminary cooperation intention. Meanwhile, they visited the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre.
During the visit in Kenya, they visited the plant Genebank of Kenya in Nairobi firstly. They exchanged the research achievement by academic lecture and forum with the researchers of Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils in Egerton University. Subsequently, they visited agronomy farm, greenhouses and pasture, etc. Apart from these, they communicated and discussed with each other about training of young staff, study and utilization of germplasm in horticultural crops, and achieved preliminary cooperation intention. Meanwhile, they visited the Confucius Institute and planted three friendship trees in the botanical garden in Egerton University.
EIAR is charged with the responsibility for providing the overall coordination of agricultural research countrywide and advising government on agricultural research policy formulation.Currently, the EIAR comprise 55 research centers located across various agro-ecological zones.It does very well in the field of breeding of highland crops, such as Tef and B. carinata. In addition, Egerton University has been focusing on higher education and scientific research of life sciences and natural resources. It enjoys a high reputation and popularity around the Eastern Africa, especially in the field of agriculture science.
