The International Livestock Research Institute’s Azage Tegegne, who leads the Livestock and Irrigation Value chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project has been honoured by the Ethiopian Government for his role in improving dairy cattle genetics and dairy value chain development in the country.
His action research in ‘the application of hormone assisted estrous synchronization and mass insemination’ technology to enhance cattle genetic improvement through improved reproductive performance’ was recognised by H.E Ato Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, at the 5th national award on science, technology, innovation and research. The award ceremony, held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on 15 November 2014, was attended by high-level government officials, diplomats, representatives of the international community, family members of the awardees and other invited guests.
Azage’s research was part of the Improving Productivity and Market Success of Ethiopian Farmers (IPMS) project, which brought together researchers from the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Tigray Agriculture and Rural Development Office and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in implementing the genetic improvement work in Wukro, Adigrat, Adwa and in Axum, Ethiopia. Azage was the principal researcher in the project and also led capacity development of regional experts and artificial insemination technicians. Azage secured finance from ILRI to carry out the work as well.
Successes from this project are now being scaled out to other parts of the country including the Amhara, Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s regions.
Azage, along with LIVES staff, continues to support regional partners in capacity development and providing technical advice for the continued improvement of dairy genetics in Ethiopia.
The award ceremony also recognized students and teachers, trainees and trainers, researchers and innovators who have registered outstanding innovation model and technology in science and mathematics, technical and vocational education, research and innovation in Ethiopia.
Read a related story from LIVES blog: More money, milk and meat: Mass artificial insemination for Ethiopian cattle
National media coverage of the event
የቴክኖሎጂ አቅምን ለማሳደግ ለሚደረጉ ጥረቶች ድጋፍ ይደረጋል፡-ጠ/ሚ ኃይለማርያም
PM awards 268 Ethiopians for outstanding achievements in science, technology and innovation
