Jemal Abdulkerim Ute is an Assistant Professor of Agronomy at Madda Walabu University in Ethiopia. He’s also the lead researcher on a project that will help his country revolutionize wheat cultivation, the national staple.
Demand for wheat in Ethiopia is rising as that country’s population grows, and now Ethiopia consumes more wheat than it produces, resulting in a rising import bill. The government is responding by expanding irrigation systems to as many rural wheat-growing smallholder farms as possible, so they can cultivate wheat year-round. This is a lot easier said than done. That’s where innovators like the team at Madda Walabu University come in. Grow Further is proud to be working with them on their project to marry the perfect off-season wheat varieties with optimized irrigation strategies to help Ethiopia meet its food security goals.
Thanks to our donor members, Grow Further has awarded a $68,000 grant to Madda Walabu University to fund their work. As the project advances, we asked Abdulkerim to tell us more about himself, how he became an agronomist, and where the project stands today. Below, we learn more about this food security innovator, what motivates him, and where his team’s project goes next.
“They walk their talk.”
Joining the fight for food security
Abdulkerim said he was inspired to become an agricultural scientist in part by what he saw all around him where he grew up.
“Growing up in a region where agriculture is the backbone of the economy and livelihood, I witnessed firsthand the challenges farmers face due to climate change, water scarcity, and low crop productivity,” he said.
Ethiopia has greatly improved its food security situation since the terrible famines of the 1980s. However, there’s still a long way for the nation to go. Its rising dependence on wheat imports is among the most significant challenges Ethiopia faces.
Understanding the importance of agriculture to the nation’s future, Abdulkerim said he decided at a young age that he had a role to play.
“These challenges motivated me to pursue a career in agricultural research, particularly agronomy, where I could contribute to developing sustainable solutions that empower farmers and enhance food production,” he said. “My passion for improving farming systems and my belief in the transformative power of research drove me to engage in this field.”
His goal now is to discover the ultimate off-season wheat varieties and couple these super-crops with the best off-season irrigation strategies and technologies. Abdulkerim says he measures success based on how the farmers feel about these innovations, whether they are improving their lives or not.
“The most rewarding part of our work is seeing the tangible impact of research on farmers’ lives,” he said. “For example, when farmers adopt improved wheat varieties or better irrigation strategies and achieve higher yields, it not only improves their income but also strengthens their resilience to climate change.”
Discovering Grow Further
Abdulkerim says he found out about Grow Further and our mission through a simple internet search at a time when he and his colleagues were searching for ways to get their ideas off the ground. The government of Ethiopia is very supportive of Madda Walabu University’s scientific work, but government resources are limited and stretched thin. That’s where Grow Further’s generous donors stepped in to lend a hand.
“We learned about Grow Further through an online internet platform,” Abdulkerim recalled. “We understood how Grow Further supports innovative agricultural research projects that have the potential to transform food systems and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. Intrigued by their mission and focus on sustainable agriculture, we explored their website and this grant opportunity, which aligned perfectly with our research goals.”
By that, he means that he was inspired to apply for a Grow Further grant not only because they needed the funds, but because his team was impressed with our requirements and the kinds of innovative research efforts we seek to support. In other words, he and his colleagues liked how we’re focused on “real-world agricultural challenges” and research that takes a humbler approach, one that involves the farmers in the process of discovery.
“Grow Further’s emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and farmer-centric solutions resonated with our research philosophy and approach. In the meantime, we found Grow Further by far beyond our expectations,” he said.
In other words, “they walk their talk” as he put it.
Getting closer to the goal
Abdulkerim said Madda Walabu University’s research and development on resistant wheat varieties and optimal irrigation is moving forward at a steady clip thanks to our donors’ support.
“Currently, our research is in the implementation phase at two selected locations,” he explained. They’ve selected fields and have planted drought-resistant experimental wheat varieties. Irrigation systems are in place in one of these locations, and “we are now actively monitoring crop growth, soil moisture, and weather conditions.” In the second test location, Abdulkerim said seed planting is complete and improved based on earlier assessments. “Overall, the project is on track to deliver meaningful insights and practical solutions for year-round wheat production.”
Abdulkerim and his colleagues said they are grateful for the support they’re receiving from Grow Further.
“Irrigation-based research is usually very costly and untouchable for researchers in developing countries, and the same is true for us,” he explained. “With this support, we have been able to accelerate the implementation of the project, putting us on the highway of achieving our end goal.”
We at Grow Further are equally honored to be a part of this transformative effort. We are in constant contact with Abdulkerim and Madda Walabu University’s research team and are looking forward to witnessing how their efforts improve the lives of thousands of farmers and millions of consumers in Ethiopia.
— Grow Further
Photo credit: Jemal Abdulkerim Ute (second from left) and Madda Walabu University researchers in the field in Ethiopia. Photo courtesy of Jemal Abdulkerim Ute.