My Rendezvous at Haramayo University

My Rendezvous at Haramayo University

Mohamed H. Bahal

One of my old classmates took the initiative and contacted former class mates of 1963 graduates to commemorate 50th anniversary at Haramaya University, Ethiopia.The idea of getting together with former classmates were unanimously accepted. The meeting was held at the University on July 3-6/2013.

Haramaya_UniversityOne of my first surprises was how the College of Agriculture and Business affiliated with the Oklahoma University with 350 students enrollments grew exponentially to 35,000 students.

The University consists of 21 faculties comprising of Agriculture, Medicine, Engineering, Animal Husbandry, Social Science, Computer Science to name but a few.

Our meeting coincided with the graduating classes of 2013. We took part in an elaborate assembly attended by high ranking Gov. officials addressing 5,000 graduates of different fields, out of which 21 were honored with  Primary Health (PH). degrees.

My group were treated as  guests of honor and showered with congratulatory messages for coming from a long way to attend the ceremony and commemorate our 50TH anniversary graduation.

Haramayo UnivPrior to the graduation ceremony, there were a two day workshop in which agricultural research scientists including two of my old  classmates (as consultants) discussed the current agricultural situation of the country. It was an open serious dialogue about the agricultural research and it’s impacts on the lives of farmers. Emphasis was made in a panel discussion on how to obtain increased sustained production for food security and self- reliance. It was revealed that over 660 crop varieties consisting  of cereals, pulses, oil seeds, and horticultural crops of improved new varieties were released to the farmers during 60 years of agricultural research work.

Despite this remarkable achievements in agricultural research, the need to make the country self- sufficient in food production remains the number one priority in the development plan of the country. With the fast population growth in the country, the agricultural scientists are working with zeal and dedication to  raise yields per crops.

khatIf I just give a glimpse of my second surprise, it was the economic impacts  of kat ( Qaad) export to Somaliland. Everywhere in the  countryside where kat is grown, you vividly see the old thatched- roofed huts were replaced with modern houses. Because of the high demand of kat, land for cultivation became in short supply and farmers made terraces on the sloping sides of the mountains to increase kat production to meet the demand. The distance between Harar and Haramya is 25 KM. High rise buildings line up along the paved road joining the two cities.

The apparent question one raises is can Somaliland afford to live with such high trade deficit?

in the spirit of the cordial relationship between the two countries, it is a high time that the government of Somaliland finds out saleable commodities such as salt and fish at least to make partial offset of such high trade deficit. Somaliland  cannot afford to spend the  limited hard currency which is mostly obtained from the Diaspora to be spend on kat which  is a health hazard.

It is a fact that there are so many embryonic universities sprouting everywhere now and then in the country. These institutions can utilize the immense knowledge  as well as experience available at Haramaya University with it’s expanded fields of studies. The University is easily accessible and amiable for cooperation in raising the administrative and academic capacities of the country’s higher educational institutions.

Mohamed H. Bahal
Email:qaadir99@gmail.com

 

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