WATDEV Project Features Best Agricultural Management Practices and Innovation Roadshow in Bishoftu

Bishoftu, April 2025 – The Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Innovation Roadshow was held March 31^st and April 1st 2025 at the Bishoftu Agricultural Research Centre, bringing together 65 participants including researchers, practitioners, farmers, and innovators from across Ethiopia and East Africa. The workshop was organized under the Climate Smart Water Management and Sustainable Development for Food and Agriculture in East Africa (WATDEV) Project – focused on promoting sustainable water management and showcasing agricultural innovations. (www.watdev.eu/about or www.watdev.eu )

In his welcoming and opening remarks, Dr. Gete Zeleke, Director General of the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC), underlined the urgency of sustainable water management in enhancing agricultural resilience and ensuring food security.

Mr. Moses Odeke, from the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), provided an overview of the WATDEV Project, detailing its objectives, research methodologies, and anticipated impact across the East African region. Also Dr. Tena Alamirew, Deputy Director General of WLRC, presented key lessons from the WATDEV Project, highlighting effective BMPs that have improved water use efficiency and soil health while increasing crop productivity. His session offered insights into how research-backed solutions can be translated into practical, field-level applications.