Facilities

Bako Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Ethiopia is a major multidisciplinary agricultural research institution located about 250 km west of Addis Ababa, near the town of Bako in the Oromia Region. It was originally established in 1964 as the Ethio‑German Experimental Station through a bilateral agreement between the Ethiopian government and the former Federal Republic of Germany. Over the decades the center transitioned to Ethiopian ownership and is now operated under the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), serving as one of the oldest and most organized regional research centers in the country. The station covers a vast area with diverse land uses, including experimental fields, seed multiplication plots, natural forests, grazing lands, and research facilities tailored to support agricultural innovation. Its strategic location within a mid‑altitude, sub‑humid ecology with substantial rainfall makes it ideal for research on a broad range of crops and farming systems. BARC’s core mandate revolves around problem‑oriented, demand‑driven research to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. This encompasses technology generation and adaptation across multiple disciplines, including crop improvement (with strong emphasis on cereals like maize), crop protection, natural resource management, livestock and animal feed research, socio‑economic and extension research, and emerging work in coffee and tea. The center also plays a critical role in producing and multiplying early generation seeds and disseminating improved technologies to farmers across several zones in western Oromia. Collaboration with national and international partners, capacity building for staff and stakeholders, and documentation and dissemination of agricultural knowledge are integral parts of its mission to enhance food security, rural livelihoods, and sustainable resource use.