September 2014

1^st IPI-Ministry of Agriculture - Agricultural Transformation Agency Ethiopia joint symposium in East Africa on “The Role of Potassium in Cropping Systems of sub-Saharan Africa: Current Status and Potential for Increasing Productivity”, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 4-5 September 2014.

This event will be of interest to soil and plant nutritionists, agronomists, extension officers, as well as governmental/non-governmental organizations and private companies that have an interest in balanced fertilization. Invited speakers will include scientists from the region, and beyond. Poster presentations are open to all, and students are encouraged to participate and present relevant research related to the themes of the symposium.

Themes:

• Potassium Fertilizer Management in Major Cropping Systems of sub-Saharan Africa
• Current Advances made in the Determination of Potassium Status in Soils and Plants
• Evaluation of Soil Potassium Fertility in Ethiopia and East Africa
• Evidence of the Effect of Potassium Fertilization on Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency
• The Beneficial Role of Potassium in Tackling Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Cropping Systems
• Nutrient Mining and Stagnation of Agricultural Productivity in sub-Saharan Africa
• Potash Production in Ethiopia: Prospects and Challenges
• Public-Private Partnerships: The Role of NGOs in Scientific Information Generation and Transfer

Confirmed Speakers:

• Sileshi Getahun, State Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia
• Tekalign Mamo, Ministry of Agriculture
• Sam Gameda, IFPRI Ethiopia
• Oumou Camara, IFDC Ethiopia
• Teshome Lakew, Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture
• Selamyihun Kidanu, Agricultural Transformation Agency, Ethiopia
• Benayahu Bar-Yosef, Agricultural Research Organization of Israel
• Erik Karltun, Agricultural Transformation Agency
• Bernard Vanlauwe, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture; IITA
• S. K. Bansal, Potash Research Institute of India
• Wassie Haile, Hawassa University, Ethiopia
• Hillette Hailu, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
• Abebe Shiferaw, Agricultural Transformation Agency
• Mulugeta Demiss and Taye Bekele, Agricultural Transformation Agency
• John Wendt, IFDC, East & Southern Africa Division
• Uri Yermiyahu, Agricultural Research Organization of Israel
• Bashir Jama, Director of Soil Health Program, AGRA
• Eyasu Elias, CASCAPE, Ethiopia
• Gezahegn Ayele, USAID/CIAFS, Ethiopia
• Nega Wubeneh, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency
• Hillel Magen, IPI

For more details contact Mr. Eldad Sokolowski, IPI Coordinator sub-Saharan Africa or see updates and information on the IPI website/Events.