Development at any phase is always linked with technology and technology happens when there is an advancement in science. For any successful economy, particularly in today’s quest for knowledge-based economies, science and technology are the basic requisites. Modernization in every aspect of life is the greatest example of the implementation of science and technology.
There are several development interventions in developing countries and one such potential instrument is the application of science and technology in rural areas (STRA) which intends to transform rural areas towards sustainable and profitable livelihood.
Science, technology, and innovation are crucial to improve the productivity of agriculture and enhance the capacity for adaptation and mitigation of climate change, AU Trade and Industry Commissioner, Albert Muchanga said.
Addressing the 5th plenary session of AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology, and Innovation, Muchanga said the impact of agriculture on the physical environment needs to be factored in a world of climate change.
Ethiopia is one of the developing countries in the world struggling to transform its rural areas. The country has a well-articulated science and technology policy. However, much progress has not been witnessed due to the slow social and economic development process, said Ananth Natarajan in his paper titled: Application of science and technology in rural areas (ASTRA) – in Ethiopian context.
That is why the government has given due attention to change the situation and utilize science and technology for development. Recently, Innovation and Technology Minister, Getahun Mekuria revealed that Ethiopia will launch its first satellite that conducts agriculture research, environmental protection, and weather forecasting by the end of this year.
Again, SpaceWatch.Global reported that the Ethiopian government is set to break ground on a satellite manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing (MAIT) facility in the Addis Ababa area in January 2020, signaling the start of the second phase of its space development strategy.
Speaking with the Space in Africa online publication on 14 October 2019, Dr. Solomon Belay, the Director-General of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI), said that the Ethiopian government has an agreement with the French company ArianeGroup and funding from the European Union’s European Investment Bank (EIB) to build the MAIT facility on a 30 month schedule starting in early 2020.
Russia and Ethiopia have also agreed to cooperate on a program intended to give Addis Ababa the ability to begin work on a nuclear power station within 10 years.
The Russians will help to develop the foundations for an Ethiopian nuclear industry, including the writing of safety regulations and establishing storage facilities for nuclear fuel and waste.
The two sides will set up a committee to plan a list of projects, the centerpiece of which will be a 3GW nuclear plant but will include reactors to create radioactive isotopes for medical, agriculture and research purposes.
Despite the late entry into space technology, the efforts over the past three years have brought results; and the country has been formulating policy and strategy that helps it to utilize outputs from space science for development, Getahun elaborated.
Getahun said the development of digital technology skills is at a low level in the country and needs to step up. Therefore, the Ministry, in collaboration with universities has been engaged in a project to expand and improve the accessibility of internet cafes as well as innovation and incubation centers to increase digital technology skills, he added.
The Ethiopian Herald November21, 2019
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
