Agricultural Research, in Amhara Region, was started in 1960s at Kob Sub-center in the Eastern part of the region. The sub-center, under the national research system, focused primarily on investigation of management practices and variety selection suitable for the low rainfall areas of the hot to warm sub-moist lowland sorghum belt. Other parts of the region were addressed only by testing sites with small land holdings at Bure, Mota, Bichena, Finoteselam, Dabat and Debre Tabor (for the western parts of the region) serving for national variety trials and limited agronomic experiments. Later in 1980s, three sub-centers (Adet, Sirinka and Sheno) became operational representing different agro ecologies and farming systems.
Following regionalization and decentralization of power to regional states these research centers within Amhara National Regional State (ANRS) were transferred to the regional administration and became Semi-autonomous in 1994. Under the new set up, the sub-centers became full fledged centers and started planning, designing, develop research program, and review at regional and federal level. However, the centers were at very low level and capacitating the centers to bring about agricultural research that can support the overall agricultural development endeavors in the region was primary task of the centers and the regional government. In about five years time after their transfer to the regional administration, the research centers assumed relative strength and embarked on planning agricultural research that primarily reflect the region’s interest. Eventually, a commendable step was taken to get 20 years Regional Agricultural Research Master Plan (RARMP) and its action plan formulated that was released in 1999. One key recommendation of RARMP was the need to have a regional research institution that coordinates agricultural research in the region. Given the diversity and complexity of agricultural problems in the region, high population, the diversity and abundance of natural resources, in fact, deserves to have its own regional research institute. The regional government positively considered this recommendation and Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) was established in July 2000 by proclamation number 42 as a regional apex body to coordinate agricultural research activities of the research centers. Currently, there are 8 research centers (Adet, Debre Berhan, Gonder, Sirinka, Sekota, Andasa, Bahir-Dar Fishery and Bahir-Dar Agricultural Mechanization) scattered through out the region responsible for agricultural research targeted to agrocologies and farming systems they are representing. Moreover, there are 5 sub-centers (Finote Selam, Debre Tabor, Kobo, Haik and Alem Ketema) representing agro ecologies far from main centers.
The scope of agricultural research in the region got impetus and this heralded the beginning of problem oriented and region specific agricultural research in almost all disciplines.
Relatively strong annual research program review at all levels with the participation of relevant stakeholders, complemented by field evaluation are the main monitoring and evaluation tools put in place to maintain relative strength of the research undertakings in the region and to ensure their relevance. Moreover, tissue culture and grain quality laboratories are organized centrally at ARARI to support the research efforts. ARARI management is also committed to improve the staff quality through short and long term trainings and efforts to utilize opportunities is encouraging. As a result ARARI and its affiliated research centers are registering satisfactory achievements and maximum effort will be done to capitalize on our achievements.
Currently, the institute has eight main research centers. They are:
