ILRI-LIVES’ Solomon Gizaw recognized for role in animal genetics improvement in Ethiopia

Solomon Gizaw at the Science, Technology and Innovation Award ceremony in Addis Ababa (photo credit: ILRI\LIVES).

Solomon Gizaw, an animal geneticist in the Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) Project, has been recognized by the Ethiopian government for his role in animal genetics improvement in the country.

Solomon was recognized his contribution to the design of small ruminant breeding programs for smallholder systems in Ethiopia while working for the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) at Debre Birhan, in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the University of Natural Resources and Life Science in Vienna.

He also played a key role in inception of the Menz sheep breed improvement program, and the implementation of the community based sheep breeding program, which benefited smallholder farming communities in the country.

Solomon received a gold medal from H E Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, at the 6^th Science, Technology and Innovation Award Ceremony held 14 November 2015 at the African Union Conference Centre in Addis Ababa.

Six other Ethiopian research projects also received awards from the Ministry of Science and Technology for their outstanding performance in research and innovation.