EIAR Says Improved Hybrid Crop Varieties Boost Productivity

Addis Ababa, August 16, 2025 (ENA)— Various improved hybrid seeds notably wheat and barley have yielded increased production and productivity, according to the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR).

In an exclusive interview with ENA, EIAR Director General Prof. Nigussie Dechassa said that the institute is playing crucial role to boost production by releasing improved hybrid crop varieties of wheat and maize barley among others and disseminating to farmers across the country.

He mentioned that some 10 wheat hybrid varieties have been released through research.

Hence, these hybrid varieties played significant role in enhancing the productivity and production of wheat crop both through summer wheat cultivation and meher crop season over the last seven years, he said.

Citing that 14-15 quintals of wheat on average was obtained per hectare 20 years ago, the professor said that the yield now has increased to 36 quintals on average and maximum 80 quintals per hectare.

With the hybrid varieties of barley, we can fully address the demands of malt for breweries by producing excessively.

He recalled that Ethiopia used to import barley for malt as an input for breweries but now, we have attained our consumption barley by local harvesting over the last 10 years.

The maize production has also boosted production through research, registering 50-70 quintal per ha. and maximum 130 quintals, he underlined.

Though Ethiopia’s agro-ecology is favourable to produce soybean extensively, the cop has yet to be given attention, Prof. Nigussie stated.

By now, research has been conducting on soybean, he said.

According to the professor, 26 varieties of soybean have been identified, with the potential of increasing the output from the previous 17-23 quintals per hectare to 20-26 quintals per hectare.

Beyond its significance of household food nutrition value, soybean can also be commercialized for export trade, he underlined.