National Conference on Eritrean Agricultural Studies Concludes Successfully

Asmara: The two-day National Conference on Eritrean Agricultural Studies 2026, held at the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers Hall in Asmara under the theme Advancing Sustainable Agri-food Systems for National Economic Growth, concluded today. According to African Press Organization, 76 research papers were presented at the conference, covering a wide range of topics including Agricultural Extension and Farmers Adoption, Agricultural Digitalization, Value Chains and Agribusiness, Food Safety, Security and Nutrition, Agricultural Biotechnology and Laboratory Services, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Genetic Resources and Biodiversity Conservation, and Agricultural Policy, Regulatory Frameworks and Governance. The research papers presented by experts also delved into subjects such as the Evaluation of Sesame Varieties for Optimizing Yield and Cultivation Opportunities, Evaluation of Fish Amino Acid and Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield of Barley, Status of Post-Harvest Handli ng and Ripening Methods of Bananas, Tenure Security and Agricultural Development, Mobilizing the Diaspora in Agro-Industrial Transformation, Synergizing Sustainable Energy Production and Climate, Documenting and Registering Flora in Eritrea, Effect of Compost on the Physicochemical Properties of Vertisols and Yield Performance of Wheat Varieties, Assessment of Current Dairy Cattle Performance, Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Eritrean Indigenous Chickens, Spatial and Statistical Variability Analyses of Satellite-Based Climate Data, and Survey of an Ectoparasitic Organism of the Tree Locust, among others. In his concluding address, Dr. Efrem Gebremeskel, Chairman of the Conference Coordinating Committee, stated that the conference had provided a vital platform for presenting research findings, sharing professional experiences, and discussing the challenges and opportunities facing Eritrea's agricultural sector. Dr. Efrem emphasized the importance of strengthening the connection betw een research, policy, and implementation. He highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among Government institutions, research and higher education institutions, farmers, the private sector, and development partners. Mr. Arefaine Berhe, Minister of Agriculture, noted that the idea of holding the conference stemmed from the International Conference on Eritrean Studies held in January 2025. He attributed the success of the conference to the extensive preparations undertaken by the coordinating committee over approximately a year and a half and congratulated the committee for their efforts. The conference, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, was attended by more than 300 senior Government and PFDJ officials, experts, farmers representatives, food processors, development partners, and invited guests.