Project Management and current status
Project Management and current status
Ethiopia contributed the original Vernonia seed ( vernonia galamensis ethiopica) to the world. Ethiopia in the past has contributed commercially valuable and new germplasm to the world. Many of these germplasms have been domesticated elsewhere generating significant revenues with little share of the benefits accruing to Ethiopia. This is likely to repeat again unless Ethiopian launch effort in the domestication of vernonia galamensis and collaborate with NGO’s and others dedicated for mutual benefits. Several attempts, with the best US agricultural experts and millions of dollars invested, were made to grow vernonia in USA (Arizona), Africa (Zimbawe, Kenya), Latin America (Mexico) with little or no success. The lessons drawn from this experience will definitely serve as a basis for the success of vernonia in Ethiopia. The failure to develop vernonia elsewhere was due to the specific photoperiod requirements. However, the advanced cultural practices employed in vernonia propagation and the hybrid germplasm could serve as a standard general protocol to be developed and revised in Ethiopia. In our vernonia pilot study we made new observations and discovered new genotypes. We have developed a new revised the cultural practices specific to Ethiopian condition. It is against this background that a group of Ethiopians who are aware of vernonia multi-purpose potential to contribute to Ethiopia’s have established Vernonia Dream Team (VDT) to advance vernonia at the national and international level.
Realizing that Ethiopia is the natural habitat for vernonia and grows wild in many parts of Ethiopia, this study will focus in finding all the variable combination of factors that would contribute to increase yield per hectare substantially. VDT’S effort during the first phase of this project will concentrate in identifying the combination of cultural practice and inputs that will give the highest per hectare yield.
Aware that Ethiopia is the center of vernonia germplasm diversity and has the potential to meet the increasing demand for industrial product, A group of Ethiopian Scientist and business group have established VDT. The project involves two phases: The first phase, 2009-2010, the domestication of wild vernonia collection, Ethio-specific vernonia cultural practices requirements pilot study have been completed while making the preparation for the second phase: . The second phase, 2010-2015, involves large scale vernonia farm on 100 ha ,setting up oil extraction industrial plant for the national paint industry, international market and the seed flake for livestock feed.
In the past, VDT has collected wild vernonia(VG-04), propagated and evaluated the oil content in the USA. This has enabled VDT to acquire considerable amount of vernonia seed that would enable it to acquire its spearhead efforts its domestication in Ethiopia. It has also plan to undertake further research, in collaboration with other groups abroad, to find high quality vernonia germplasm.
The Pilot study area:
WAWA H.C. shall initiate the first phase project, the domestication and median seed pool expansion at its WAWA horticulture station located at the basin of Tana lake, 100 hectares of land at Goregora, Denbaye (Fig. 3). The Pilot project area is composed of mainly flat, semi-arid, savanna grass land suitable for maize, mango ,other fruits and vernonia. The project area is on flat land with altitude ranging from 1200-1700 meter above sea level and suited for mechanized farming. WAWA has been established with all horticulture infrastructure and capital equipments needed for Vernonia agro-industrial development. A preliminary vernonia seed (V-004) Fig.1 germination trial in the local soil matrix show fast response (see Fig. 2). The annual rain fall ranging between 680-1200 mm and a minimal temperature of 18oC and 27oC, which is conductive to growing vernonia. Lake Tana is with in the bird eye view from the farm site, ~2miles, a master plan has been drawn to use gravitational irrigation system to grow vernonia all year round. There is gravel road from the farm either via Bahardar- Woldia to Djiboti or via metema road to port Sudan. Power line network and electric power service is available at the farm seed.