• Tilahun Tadesse

Rice cultivation is a recent phenomenon in Ethiopia. Though the crop is a recent introduction to the country; its importance is well recognized as the production area coverage of about 10,000 ha in 2006 has increased to over 50,000 ha in 2018 and number of farmers engaged in rice production has also grown year after year. The engagement in the rice production has transformed the living standard of many farmers. The potential rice production area in Ethiopia is estimated to be over 5,590,895 ha. The earlier rice research endeavors in Ethiopia was started in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, though successful rice production was not started by then. Emphasis on rice research was given in 1985/6 with the establishment of Pawe and Abobo research centers during the then massive resettlement program. Japan Oversea Cooperation Volunteers has supported the Agriculture bureau and the research dealing with rice research in Gambella between 1984 and 1998. In Pawe area, the Italians have done a successful rice research and production activities through the Tana-Beles prioject. As a result, rice production was started in Pawe and Gambella areas. In the early 1980s through the technical support of North Korean experts’, research on rice was initiated in Fogera Plain where the most successful and sustained rice production appeared. Later, many research centers become engaged in rice research and have developed many recommendations for rice production in the nation. Currently 35 improved rice varieties had been released for the three rice ecosystems (15 for rainfed upland, 11 for rainfed lowland and 9 for irrigated). Moreover, various location specific rice crop management technologies have been generated with respect to fertilizer rate and application time, seed rates, row spacings, planting methods across the major rice producing regions. A number of crop protection recommendations are also given to different rice growing locations. Some mechanical implements like row weeders, harvesters, threshers, etc were evaluated and introduced to rice producers. The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) has recognized the importance of rice and had established Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (Fogera NRRTC) in 2013. Fogera NRRTC is mandated to coordinate the rice research in the country. At present 12 federal and regional centers including: Fogera, Pawe, Gondar, Tepi, Bonga, Assosa, Maytsebri, Worer, Bako, Jima, Gode, and Gambella Research Centers, are involved in rice research activities across the country. There are also some agricultural universities (like Mizan-Tepi and Debretabor) engaged in the rice research.

Rice, production, potential, research

"HISTORY, CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF RICE RESEARCH IN ETHIOPIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 2, page no.767-774, February-2020, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2002324.pdf

"HISTORY, CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF RICE RESEARCH IN ETHIOPIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 2, page no. pp767-774, February-2020, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2002324.pdf