Nekemte Soil Research Center

Establishment

The Nekemte Soil Research Center is one of the seventeen (17) centers under the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute. It was established in 1994. Powers, mission, scope of work, structural organization, research and study activities of Natural Resources in the western regions of Oromia (Horro-Guduru Wollega, East Wollega ,West –Wollega and Kellem-Wollega) as well Soil Study (Service Delivery) work on Liquid/acidic soil in selected districts of West Showa district in general sampling and Basic technology work of ”Strain” multiplication of different types of forage crops at no cost to the farmer distribution is working.

Location

The Center found on 328 km at the west direction of Addis Ababa at Nekemte town. It is located an altitude of 2140 m.a.s.l, 09.08977⁰ North and 036.57264⁰ East longitude. An average annual rain fall and temperature of Nekemte is 1998 mm and 17.5⁰c respectively.

Objectives

1. To Characterize, classify and map soil resource and soil fertility map.
2. Giving recommendation to problematic soils depending on soil analysis datas.
3. To know the soil fertility status of the mandate area.
4. Fertilizer type and rate recommendation.
5. Soil analysis service (for acid soil reclamation program and others).
6. To multiply and distribute rhizobium bacteria (biofertilizer).
7. To increase production and productivity of crops based on specific crop nutrient requirement and recommendation according to agro-ecology of the area.

Research Process

1. Natural Resource Research Process
2. Agricultural economics, Agricultural Extension and Gender Research Process
3. Natural resource technology multiplication Research process

Research Teams

1. Soil fertility Improvement and Problematic Soil team
2. Soil Resource Survey Team
3. Soil Testing Team
4. Natural Resource Technology Multiplication Team
5. Agricultural Economics Research Team
6. Agricultural Extension and Gender Research Team

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