News

Sinana Agricultural Research Center has released one malt barley variety called Singitan (IBON-MRA P#26) and one food barley variety called Robera (ACC.218956#25) in 2016. The two varieties have been tested for high yield, disease and pest resistance and quality parameters. The varieties were proved adaptable to the highlands of Bale and similar agroecologies. The food barley variety was selected from the accessions of Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) whereas the malt barley variety was from nurseries of the International Center of Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The special merit of the malt barley variety is its resistance to shoot fly (Delia flavibasis) which is the major pest constraining barley production in the area. It is also of high kernels weight and other malt quality traits.

In May 2016, Holetta Research Center has also released two malt barley varieties known as HB-1963 and HB-1964. New varieties of food barley were also released by Mekele University and Mekele Agricultural research center for adaptation in Tigray region. These improved varieties will increase the number of released/registered varieties in Ethiopia to 64.