AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 1 of 15
WORKSHOP REPORT
FOR
LABORATORIES OF KULUMSA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER
REPORTED BY
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
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
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 2 of 15
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 3 of 15
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
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 4 of 15
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
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 5 of 15
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 6 of 15
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 7 of 15
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 8 of 15
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 9 of 15
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
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 10 of 15
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 11 of 15
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
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 12 of 15
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
(Refer.Doc.1.Accreditation plan).
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 13 of 15
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
Accreditation of the laboratory would take 12 months
(Refer.Doc.2.Accreditation plan).
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 14 of 15
Job description for key and non-key personnel must be done and
available. The numbers of staffs are not enough for the work.
Accreditation of the laboratory would take 12 months
(Refer.Doc.2.Accreditation plan).
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.
AFRICA QUALITY CONSULTING FIRM PLC
WORKSHOP REPORT
Doc no. AQC/F/0 Rev. 0/16 Page 15 of 15
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
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
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
917850880
913049786