ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia holds immense potential for cotton productivity, according to the Werer Agricultural Research Center Director, who called on key institutions to focus on fully harnessing the sector.
Shimelis Alemayehu, Director of the Werer Agricultural Research Center under the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute, told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the center has employed technology-driven interventions to enhance cotton productivity since its inception in the 1960s.
Aligning its core mission with natural resource management and research activities, the center has successfully transitioned from research-based productivity to quality cotton production.
Established in the late 1990s, the center’s cotton research program has been working on industrial crop research, focusing on cotton genetics to address development challenges like bollworm infestations and other pests that affect yields and quality.
In addition, the center has provided farmers with effective pesticides and introduced 43 improved cotton species across the country in areas suitable for cotton cultivation. Over the past three years, it has also delivered four high-yield cotton varieties, the director elaborated.
Research indicates that cotton production, once at just 18 quintals per hectare, has now surged to 54.3 quintals per hectare. The adoption of BP cotton genes has further reduced the need for chemical insecticides, cutting unnecessary expenses and improving productivity.
“Despite the progress, there is still much to be done,” Shimelis remarked, urging local industries to prioritize domestic cotton, which would directly promote the sector’s growth.
The center, in collaboration with stakeholders, is actively working to bridge gaps in manufacturing capacity and information to unlock the country’s vast cotton potential. The director also stressed the need for the government and relevant ministries to work together, not only to support the textile industry but also to promote cotton as a significant export product.
BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2024
