Workshop Report on Kulumsa Agricultural Research Laboratories

AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC

WORKSHOP REPORT

Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 of 15

WORKSHOP REPORT

FOR

LABORATORIES OF KULUMSA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER

REPORTED BY


REPORTED TO

PHYSIKALISCH-TECHNISCHE BUNDESANSTALT (PTB)

"Enhancement of Quality Infrastructure Services for Innovation in the Agriculture and Food Sector"

Project No.: FV-95305 / 2015.0139.4

JUNE 2016, ETHIOPIA


WORKSHOP REPORT


Disclaimer

This project work is done in accordance with PTB-Afriqual PLC contract agreement No: Project No.: FV-95305 / 2015.0139.4. The content of this workshop report is solely the responsibility of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the official views of PTB.


WORKSHOP REPORT


Table of contents List Of Acronyms And Abbreviations ............................................................................................................ 4

Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................................................... 5

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... 6

1. Background .................................................................................................................................. 7

2. Objective ......................................................................................................................................... 8

3. Approach ........................................................................................................................................ 8

4. Workshop Summary ............................................................................................................ 10

4.1. Seed Quality Research Laboratory ............................................................................................... 10

4.2 Pathology Research Laboratory ....................................................................................................... 11

4.3 Nutrition Research Laboratory .......................................................................................................... 13

4.4 Chemical analysis and agricultural chemistry laboratory ............................................................. 13

5. PTB Potential Intervention Areas ........................................................................................................ 14

6. List of Participants ................................................................................................................. 15


WORKSHOP REPORT


List Of Acronyms And Abbreviations

Afriqual Africa Quality Consulting Firm

APPRC Ambo Plant Protection Research Center

EIAR Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

ISTA International Seed Testing Association

KARC Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center

PT Proficiency Test

PTB Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

UoM Uncertainty of Measurement

WGARC Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center


WORKSHOP REPORT


Acknowledgement

We are indebted to Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center

management and technical staff and to the Agricultural and

Nutrition Research Laboratories Directorate of EIAR for the warm

welcome, organization and active participation at the workshop.

Extraordinary thanks are given to participants for their genuine

reflection on overall direction, assessment findings and proposed

action plan and the way forward. Afriqual Plc is grateful to KARC

staffs for organizing lab visit and activities explanation.


WORKSHOP REPORT


Executive Summary

The workshop was conducted with the aim of enriching and

concretizing previously identified assessment findings and

opportunities for improvement and the way forward. Assessment

findings were presented by Afriqual consultants, and valuable

ideas, comments and suggestions were gathered and

incorporated in the proposed action plan.


WORKSHOP REPORT


1. Background

The Ethiopian Agricultural Research System (EARS) consists of

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Regional

Agricultural Research Institutes (RARIs), and Higher Learning

Institutions (HLIs). EIAR is responsible for running federal

research centers, and RARIs are administered by the regional

state governments. In addition to conducting research at its

centers, EIAR is in charge of the responsibility for providing the

overall coordination of agricultural research countrywide, and

advising the Federal Government on agricultural research policy

formulation.

Currently, the EARS comprises 55 research centers and sites

located across various agro-ecological zones. The research

centers vary in their experience, human, facility, and other

resources capacities.

Innovation and research in the agricultural sector requires

significant capabilities for carrying out laboratory analysis. In

places where laboratories already exist, it is necessary to ensure

and to extend the technical competence and performance. In this

way, results –such as soil, water and seed quality analyses – are

furnished directly for taking decisions on what to grow and on the

quality of their produces. In addition, testing services are of

importance – as they constitute a basis for product certifications

and – thus –for market access.


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Considering these issues, PTB under the program “Enhancement

of Quality Infrastructure Services for Innovation in the Agriculture

and Food Sector” identified and selected laboratories of Kulumsa

Agricultural Research Center to improve their technical

capabilities and competence.

Kulumsa agricultural research center is one of the sixteen federal

research centers under EIAR. Currently the center has four

research processes which are Crop

Research Case Team; Livestock, Apiculture and Sericulture

Research Case Team, Soil and Water Case Team and Forestry

Research Case Team. The center is the national center of

excellence for Wheat breeding research.

2. Objective

The objective of the workshop was to enrich the proposed

assessment findings, develop detail action plan, gather and

compile the ideas into final action plan.

3. Approach

The workshop was organized by Afriqual and conducted at

KARC on 9-10 June 2016. More than 20 people from KARC,

WGARC, EIAR, APPRC, PTB and Afriqual attended the

workshop.


WORKSHOP REPORT


Participants’ were introduced

themselves and opening

remarks were given by PTB

representative, Ato Kassegn

Kebede, and by the Center

Director of KARC, Ato Abebe

Delessa.

Fig 1: Opening remarks

The first day workshop

started at 9:30 AM and ended

at 5:00 PM. The workshop

continued for half a day on

the next day and detailed

discussions were made.

Fig 2: Group photo

Gap analysis findings and

opportunities for improvement

for the Seed Quality

Research Laboratory and

Pathology Research

Laboratory were presented

by Afriqual on the first day of

the workshop. Laboratories of

the research center were

visited for their

appropriateness of

environmental conditions and

suitability of overall

accommodation. Comments

and suggestions were

collected, and discussions

and explanations on the

findings, recommendations,

and the proposed action

plans were made and the


WORKSHOP REPORT


feedbacks incorporated into

the final action plan.

Presentation of gap analysis

findings for the Chemical

Analysis and Agricultural

Chemistry Laboratory and

Nutrition Research laboratory

were followed by comments,

suggestions, discussions and

explanations on the findings,

recommendations, and the

proposed action plans in the

morning session of the

second day of the workshop.

Feedbacks were then

incorporated into the final

action plan.

4. Workshop Summary

The participants raised valuable discussion points following the`

presentation. Main points of the discussions are summarized as

follows.

4.1. Seed Quality Research Laboratory

Organizational chart of the Seed lab showing the relationship of

the laboratory with the rest of the EIAR system needs to be

indicated in a document. In line with that, the job descriptions are

generic and needs refinement.

The issue of shortage of human power was raised and the need

for additional staffs prior to the start the accreditation project was

found to be a must and strategic.


WORKSHOP REPORT


Expansion of laboratory capacities and services in the areas of

seed health were raised as necessary for the research and

service provision.

Purchasing of CRM may need longer time and for that, the

process must start as soon as possible. ISTA method of seed

testing requires a periodic update on the current version.

The issue of equipment calibration is still a problem due to

capacity problem of NMIE.

Separation of different laboratory activities may need longer time

and this will be handled by the research center. Room separation

may need for sterilization and media and reagent storage.

Optimal environmental control and monitoring systems are

needed.

The “PT Scheme” organized by EIAR needs further support.

Accreditation of the laboratory would take 18 months

(Refer.Doc.1.Accreditation plan).

4.2 Pathology Research Laboratory

Capacitating the laboratory is important in order to analyze all

kinds of sample rather than sending out samples to other places

for isolation and identification purposes. The laboratory required

isolates identification capacity development for newly emerged


WORKSHOP REPORT


diseases like Fusarium (barley disease and white disease) and

Septoria and stem disease, and yellow rust.

Training is needed on the operation of Growth Chamber and

some green houses that are not functional. It requires renovation

by the center or concerned bodies. Trained staff shortage was

identified. Equipment end user training for all laboratories must be

formulated and KARC can arrange internal training. The need for

unidirectional workflow and self-closing doors are raised.

The center needs to provide training for staff on equipment use

and authorization. Intermediate checks of calibrations must be

done and practiced very well.

The problem of store management was raised and may require a

new arrangement. The laboratory is better to be moved into the

new laboratory complex for reasons of resource sharing and

creating environmental conditions suitable for the test processes.

Scope extension like identification of bacteria can be considered.

The scope extension ideas were also raised and may include

bacterial and nematode identification, however, this may not be

possible due to limited resource.

Purchase of digital image microscopy for the laboratory is

needed. Accreditation of the laboratory would take 18 months



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4.3 Nutrition Research Laboratory

Additional qualified personnel are required for the laboratory

work. Trainings on the use and operation of equipment are

required. And also, equipment for wet chemistry are needed to

be purchased.

The laboratory

accommodation needs to be

furnished with necessary

utilities and minor

modifications are required for

separation of incompatible

activities.

Fig 3 : Nutrition laboratory visit



4.4 Chemical analysis and agricultural chemistry laboratory

Sample preparation areas are to be organized and partitioned

into samples grinding, drying and storage areas.

National soil laboratory manual is not standard method that

means validation of method is required. The issue of traceability

or CRM is still a challenge. If CRM or RM available, the

laboratory can be considered for accreditation.


WORKSHOP REPORT


Job description for key and non-key personnel must be done and

available. The numbers of staffs are not enough for the work.



5. PTB Potential Intervention Areas

1. Training and capacity buildings:

Training provision on test methods, equipment

operation and quality control/quality assurance.

2. Provision of traceable reference materials for instrument

calibration and/or quality control.

3. Facilitation of PT and/or Inter-laboratory comparisons.

4. Instrument calibration and maintenance by manufactures

5. Consultancy support.


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6. List of Participants

S.N

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

[email protected] or

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Managing Director, M&E Manager

Consultant Manager

Training & Audit Manager

911635684

911424946

911748721

Eshetu Lemma

Abdi Duga

Yalembirhan Yitayew

Afriqual Plc

Afriqual Plc

Afriqual Plc

Name Organization Tel Email

Bekele Negash

Abebe Delesa

Kassagne Kebede

Gelila Asamenew

Rut Duga

Tsehay Bogal KARC

Girma Zelleke

Sidelil Asfaw

Cherinet Kasahun

Getnet Mucha

Abduro Edo

KARC

KARC

PTB

AQRL-EIAR

KARC

KARC

Bekri Melka

Zewdie Mekanne

Daniel Kasa

Getenesh Demissie

Abraha G/Giorgis

Solomon Yilma

KARC

KARC

KARC

KARC

KARC

Position

ICT

Center Director

Consultant, Project Coordinator

EIAR Lab Coordinator

APPRC

WARC

KARC

KARC

KARC

Wondogenet Agricultural Research Institute-Researcher

ICT

Pathology-Researcher

Chemisty Lab Assistance

Chemisty Lab Assistance

Chemisty Supportive staff

Pathology Lab assistance

Chemistry Lab Assistance

Nutrition-Researcher

913123900

911810857

912684005

Pathology-Lab Assistance

913054367

911018725

911502472

911887929

911750799

910764223

920048319

910402704

Pathology-Researcher

Quality Management Representative (QMR)

Ambo Plant Protection Research Center-Researcher

912281456

918219897

914424607

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Workshop Participants

Organized by Africa Quality Consulting Firm PLC in Collaboration with PTB

Place: Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center (KARC)

Date: June 9 and 10 2016, Time :Start: 3:00AM - End: 5:00PM

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

917850880

913049786

[email protected]

Workshop Report on Kulumsa Agricultural Research Laboratories

Science

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