Centers

The national barley research program has collaborating centers where it implements the barley research among which Holetta, Kulumsa and Debre Berhan are the major ones. The national program, since 2006 has been coordianted from Sinana Agriculutural Research Center under Oromia Agricultural Research Institute.

1. Sinana Research Center

Sinana Research Center under Oromia agricultural Research Institute is one of the major barley centers representing the Southeastern Highlands of Ethiopia (Bale and Some parts of West Arsi). The center is also mandated to nationally coordinate the barley research program in the country and serve as the center of excellence for the barley improvement especially for research in shoot fly (Delia flavibasis). The area where the center is located is hot spot for barley shoot fly and malt barley is more susceptible to the pest than food barley. The center has yet released seven food barley varieties which are from local land races with disease and pest resistance merits. The major achievement in 2016 is the release of malt barley variety known as Singitan from ICARDA source. Barley Shoot fly has been constraining malt barley variety development for which no variety could be released so far and the new variety has been proved tolerant to the pest.

2. Holetta Research Center

The Holetta Research Center is one of the major barley centers representing the central Highlands of Ethiopia. The center used to serve as the center of excellence for national barley improvement program since its establishment in 1968 until 2005. Holetta has played the major role in the release and dissemination of improved barley varieties in different parts of Ethiopia including the popular food barley variety HB-1307 and malt barley varieties known as Beka and Holkr.

4. Debre Berhan Research Center

Debra berhan is located in the northern Showa zone of Amhara regional state. Barley improvement in the north shewa focused majorly on variety development for water logging vertisol conditions. Debre berhan research center is the major collaborator with the national program from the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI). Scald disease is also one of the major constraints in the Debre berhan area.