Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agriculture Research Center (YPDARC)

Establishment

Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agriculture Research Center is one of the research centers under Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO). The center was established in 1995 E.C. with the fund gained through a bilateral agreement of federal republic of Ethiopia and the international fund for agricultural development to benefit the pastoral communities. The fund was from the World Bank through Agricultural Research and Training Project (ARTP). Though it was operational since 2003, the center was officially inaugurated in June 14^th 2008. The research centre has two sites: the residential and office which are 6 km apart.

Yabello is located 570 km south of Finfine on the tarmac road to Moyale at an altitude of 1750 masl with annual mean precipitation of 500 mm. In the area, bimodal rainfall peaks are conspicuous. The main rainy season (which occurs between March and May) gets 60% and the remaining 40% goes to the short rainy season (that extends from September to November). Mean annual temperature varied from 19^oC-24^oC.

YPARC is currently working full-time on research directorates related to crops, crop protection, livestock, natural resources, Agricultural engineering, socio-economics and agricultural extension, and technology multiplications research process. The center has seven (7) research processes that are composed of eighteen (17) research teams and supporting staff.

Mandate

Adapt, generate and disseminate appropriate technologies needed for sustainable development of pastoral and agro pastoral areas of Borana and West Guji zones. In addition the center is nationally coordinates research and outreach range ecology and management activities

Areas of focus and research process and teams

1. Crop Research Process
   1.  Cereal crops research team
   2.  Pulse and Oil crops research team
   3.  Horticultural crops research team
2. Crop Protection
   1. Pathology research team
   2. Entomology Research Team
   3. Weed Science Research Team
3. Natural Resource Process
   1. Soil Fertility Improvement Team
   2. Soil and Water Conservation and watershed Management Research Team
   3. Agroforestry Research Team
4. Livestock Research Process
   1. Animal Feed and Range land Management Team
   2. Apiculture Research Team
   3. Meat Research Team
   4. Dairy Research Team
5. Socio Economics and Agricultural Extension Research Process
   1. Socio Economics Research Team
   2. Agricultural Extension Research Team
6. Agricultural Engineering Process
   1.  Irrigation and Water Harvesting Research Team
7. Technology Multiplication Research Process
   1. Crop multiplication Research Team
   2. Natural Resource Multiplication Research Team
   3. Livestock multiplication Research Team

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