This presentation by Solomon Mekonnen was a lightning project presentation for OpenCon 2017.

1. Project on: Translating open
agricultural research to local and
world language for Ethiopian
farmers to promote citizen science
By
Solomon Mekonnen
DOAJ Ambassador and Addis Ababa
University
E-mail: solomon3m@gmail.com
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2. BACKGROUND
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• Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopian economy contributing
● 41.4% of GDP, 83.9% of the total export, and 80% of employment
in the country
• Small scale farmers produce 94% of the food crops which is
related to food security.
• These farmers practice farming by employing traditional
technology, adopting a low input and low output production .
Picture credit to ILRI

3. HOW CAN WE EMPOWER FARMERS
WITH OPEN SCIENCE ?
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• Translating open research outputs in
agriculture into local and world language
to be understandable by farmers.
• Making openly available the translations
to the farmers and the public at large.
• Participating them in data collection and
analysis to increase their participation as
citizen scientist.
• Help the farmers in applying the scientific
research outputs in their farming to
increase productivity.

4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
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• Improves productivity as farmers will
easily apply scientific findings in their
farming.
• Improves the quality of the Agricultural
research as farmers will involve actively
in the research.
• Increase the impact of the research.
• Improvement in productivity will ensure
food security and also impact in economic
growth .