Key Trends from the 2003 country brief

• Eritrea is one of the smallest and youngest Sub-Saharan African countries and has only a few agencies involved in agricultural research.
• DARHRD, the primary agricultural research agency, is highly dependent on donor funding. During 1995–2000, over three quarters of total funding was contributed by donors—mostly from the Italian government through a FAO project and Danida funding.
• As a result of the war with Ethiopia during 1998–2000, government contributions to DARHRD decreased, and many researchers were diverted into national service duty for long periods.
• DARHRD will require substantial ongoing support from the Eritrean government and the donor community, especially in light of the completion of the FAO/Italian government project and the termination of Danida funding in 2003.
• Private-sector involvement in agricultural research is non-existent.

Eritrea

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