College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

OVERALL INFORMATION OF THE COLLEGE

Message of College dean

As dean College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, it is my privilege to welcome prospective students and other website visitors including researchers, guests, and community members to our esteemed institution.

I think that nothing is more urgent and important right now than ensuring that the world’s growing population has enough food, which is why Agricultural Education and Research are crucial. In Ethiopia, agriculture plays a central role in development and economic transformation. It is the primary source of income, feeding the largest population, employment, export earnings, and foreign currency. It is vital for Ethiopia’s progress, reducing poverty, and achieving Sustainable Development.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is among the academic institutions within Raya University, which was established in 2015. Its main focus is on promoting agricultural transformation and development through various means such as technology transfer, research, training, knowledge generation, and service delivery in agriculture within the country. Our college has a long-standing commitment to providing high-quality education, conducting cutting-edge research, and promoting sustainable practices in agriculture and natural resources.

Our college mission is to produce competent medium and high-level professionals who possess the knowledge, abilities, and ethical values to contribute to the improvement of societal livelihoods effectively; conduct problem-solving research with benefits to the region and the nation, release the outputs to the public and benefit the people in the region and across the nation.

College of Agriculture and Natural Resource Programs offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary education to prepare students for the challenges in the agriculture and natural resource sectors. The college provides undergraduate programs in Horticulture, Plant Sciences, Animal Sciences, Agricultural Economics, and Natural Resources Management, with plans to introduce a postgraduate program in Animal Breeding and Animal Production. To demonstrate its commitment to agricultural progress, the college has established experimental farms on over 30 hectares in both highland and lowland regions of Southern Tigray. The campus also features extensive research and teaching farms, including specialized centers for dairy, poultry, beekeeping, beef farming, agronomy, horticulture and nursery, modern. These facilities support teaching, and research, and generate revenue. The university further supports research facilities, demonstration areas, technology transfer initiatives, and capacity-building programs to foster innovation and advancement in the field.

Our esteemed staff members are dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and outreach. The college has a young and energetic staff of agricultural experts who are well-equipped to offer capacity-building programs to researchers, extension workers, and farmers. This helps in providing mentorship, guidance, and expertise to those involved in research, teaching, extension services, and investment in the agricultural sector. Raya University is strategically situated in the agriculturally rich Raya Valley, which offers diverse agroecological zones that enhance its agricultural potential. This environment supports the cultivation of a variety of crops and attracts agricultural enterprises, including large-scale farming and agro-processing. Recognizing the area’s agricultural potential, Raya University has prioritized agriculture as a first focus area of the university to bring about socio-economic transformation, as agriculture remains the primary livelihood for most of the population.

Raya University College of Agriculture and Natural Resource has strong linkage and cooperation with several public and private institutions and/or universities in the areas of training, research, and community services. Cooperation and Partnerships have been established with key entities such as the Tigray Agricultural Research Center, Maichew Agricultural Polytechnic College, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (Mekoni Agricultural Research Center), Israel Project CultivAid, Tigray Biotechnology Center, Samara University, international livestock research institution (ILRI), Kansas state university, Seed Multiplication Unions, and Reginal Agricultural Offices. These collaborations helped us to enhance our staff capacity building, joint research projects, laboratory and demonstration facility development.  Our future interest is to further expand to international partnerships and collaborations to become one of the leading agricultural training and research institutes.

Thank you for visiting the College of Agricultural and Natural Resources at Raya University. It is a prominent educational institution that strives for academic excellence, research, and community engagement. Its primary goal is to address the challenges in agriculture and promote sustainable utilization of natural resources in the area.

With regards,

Moges Asefa Weldu

Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource

Raya University, Tigray, Ethiopia

Telephone: +251-912846840

Email: mogesassefa@rayu.edu.et/ asefamoges2@gmail.com

Department of Agriculture Economics

SN Full Name Specialization Academic Qualification Institutional Email Position Mobile Number
1 Dagnew  Aebyo Development Economics M.Sc. dagnewkalayu@rayu.edu.et Head Dep;t 0914140430
2 Mezgebe  Tibebe Tefera Agribusiness and Value Chain management (ABVM) M.Sc. mezgebetibebe@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0933035211
3 Debash Beyene Tensu Agricultural Economics M.Sc. debashbeyene@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0914325655
4 Melese Alemeu Desale Agricultural Economics M.Sc. melesealemu@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0928382326
5 Genet Assefa Ayalew Rural development M.Sc. genetassefa@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0919001655
6 Haile Abrha G/mariam Agricultural Economics B.Sc. haileabraha@rayu.edu.et GA-2 0927215021
7 Fikadu Kahsay Arega Agricultural Economics B.Sc. kahsayfikadu45@gmail.com GA-2 0924974501
8 Kalayu Hagos Hadis Agricultural Economics B.Sc. Kalayuhagos476@gmail.com GA-2 0953171271
9 Birhan Tesfay Gebrezgiher Agricultural Economics B.Sc. brhan0525@gmail.com GA-2 0953518251
7 Nigus Birhanu Gebrezgiher Agricultural Extension B.Sc. – Tech.Assistant 0920874170

 Department of Horticulture 

SN Full Name Specialization Academic Qualification Institutional Email Position Mobile Number
1 Brhanu Tgabu Berhe Food Science & Nutrition Assistance prof. brhanutgabu@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0930204480
2 Gezae Abera W/giorgis Postharvest Technology Assistance prof. gezaeabera@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0922158027
3 Asmeret Kidane haile Agronomy MSc asmeretkidane@rayu.edu.et Technology transfer & industry linkage directorate director 0914019560
4 Moges Asefa Weldu Agronomy MSc mogesasefa@rayu.edu.et College dean 0912846840
5 Tesfay T/haimanot Agronomy MSc tesfayteklehymanot@rayu.edu.et Department head 0921524741
6 Berhe Hagos Abrha Soil science MSc berhehagos@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0931489071
7 Amelewerk Gizachew Lakew Horticulture MSc amelewerkgazchew@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0967795943
8 Abay sharew Alemu Horticulture MSc abaysharew@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0925443943
9 Weldebrhan Berhe Gebrehiwot Food processing Technology BSc weldushberhe27@gmail.com Lecturer 0914552274
10 Mulu Zeru Weldearegay Plant Biotechnology BSc muluzeru@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0945091525
11 Tsirha Gedy Gebremicheal Horticulture MSc tsirhagidey@gmail.com Lecturer 0977147913
12 Berhe Tsegay Hishe Horticulture BSc berhehishe21@gmail.com Lecturer 0921160439
13 Hiluf Nigus Amare Horticulture BSc hilufnigus@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0941317906
14 Berihu Kiros Hagos Horticulture BSc Graduate assistance II 0941358060
15 Hiluf hagos Sibhat Horticulture BSc hilufhagos1221@gmail.com Graduate assistance II 0914449122
16 Zewde Ayanalem Abebe Horticulture BSc zewdeaynalem@raya.edu.et Graduate assistance II 0914267693
17 Kibra Atsbha  kelelom Horticulture BSc atsbakibra87@gmail.com Graduate assistance II 0905540345
18 Baraki Desalegn Tesfay Horticulture Diploma barakidesalegn29@gmail.com Technical assistance II 0931489071

 Department of Animal Science

SN Full Name Specialization Academic Qualification Institutional Email Position Mobile Number
1. Dr. Asmelash  Tassew Veterinary Microbiology Associated  professor asmelashtassew@rayu.edu.et International Relation & Partnership for Research Director 0913282043
2. Mr. Lidetu  G/slasie Animal Nutrition MSc. lidetugsilasse@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0910690006
3. Dr. .Amare Berhe Animal genetics and breeding PhD amareberhe@rayu.edu.et Farm Manager 0920774309
4. Dr. Yibrah Tekle Veterinary Microbiology PhD yibrahtekle@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0913416877
5. Dr. Molla Michealay Tropical Veterinary Medicine Assistance professor mollamichealay@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0911344012
6. Mr. Temesgen Tesfay Animal production Assistance professor temesgentesfay@rayu.edu.et Research and publication Director 0914750148
7. Mr. Brhane G/mariam Animal breeding Assistance professor brhanegebreMariam@rayu.edu.et CRCSTT-UL coordinator 0914116149
8. Mr. Chekole  W/gebrieal Animal breeding MSc. chekoleweldegebrieal@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0907329925
9. Gebrehiwot    W/anania Animal production MSc. gebrehiwotweleanania@rayu.edu.et Department head 0913583890
10. Mr. Yonas  Belete Animal production MSc. yonasbelete@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0921120955
11. Mr. Hagos  Arefeayne Animal production MSc. hagosarefaynie@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0910754113
12. Mrs. Aselefech   Tefera Animal breeding MSc. aselefechtefera@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0910754113
13. Mr. Miesho  Kidane Animal production BSc. meishokidane19@gmail.com Lecturer and researcher 0914312710
14. Mr. Goitom T/gergies Animal production BSc. goiteomtesfagergis@gmail.com Lecturer and researcher 0975393330
15. Mr. Kedir Awol Dairy science MSc. kedirawol@rayu.edu.et Lecturer and researcher 0920952620
16. Mr. G/welde Teklu Animal production BSc. gebreweld.ru@gmail.com Lecturer and researcher 0946002407
17. Mrs. Firehiwot Girma Animal production MSc. firhiwatgirma78@gmailcom Lecturer and researcher 0919254105
18. Mr. Lamesgin Atinafu Animal nutrition MSc. lamesginatnaf50@gmail.com Lecturer and researcher 0934074921
19. Mr. Equar Birhanu Animal nutrition Technical Assistance equar.bora@gmail.com Technical Assistance 0970688708

 Department of Plant Science

SN Full Name Specialization Academic Qualification Institutional Email Position Mobile Number
1 Meresa Shumuye Agronomy MSc. meresashumuye@rayu.edu.et Department Head 0948820285
2 Tilahun Demeke Agroforestry MSc. tilahundemeke@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0943500069
3 Abnet Dagnaw Plant breeding MSc. abnetdagnaw@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0974298507
4 Feyisa Gelgu Plant breeding MSc. feyisagelgu@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0919841389
5 Mesfin Markos Pathology MSc. mesfinmarkos@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0927939890
6 Tsehay Tegegn Crop protection MSc. tsehaytegegn@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0937630011
7 Fikrte Medhn Agronomy MSc. fikrtemedhin@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0933807575
8 Berhe Hiluf Biotechnology MSc. berhehiluf@rayu.edu.et Lecturer 0910865335
9 Abdulaziz Chane Soil science MSc. abdulazizchane@gmail.com Lecturer 0989508713
10 Maaza Zenebe Natural resource MSc. meazazenebe33@gmail.com Lecturer 0935283112
11 Merhawit lemelem Plant Protection MSc. Merhawitlem777@gmail.com Lecturer
12 Birhanu Geberekiros Plant science Bsc. bireplant@gmail.com Technical lab assistance 0933392624
13 Mulu Geberemeskele Plant science Bsc. mulugebremeskel18@gmail.com Technical lab assistance 0991164480

 Total Staff of the College

S.N. Qualification M F T
Assistance professor 07 — 07
Associate professor 01 01
Lecturer 23 10 33
Degree 11 02 13
Laboratory assistance 04 01 05
  Total 47 13 60

  Total Staff of the College on Duty

S.N. Qualification M F T
1.     Laboratory Assistance 02 01 03
2.     Degree 04 01 05
3.     Lecturer 17 07 24
4.     Associate professor 01 – 01
5.     Assistance professor 06 – 06
  Total 30 09 39

 Total Staff of the College on Study Leave

S.N. Qualification M F T
Degree 02 — 02
Masters 09 02 11
PhD 05 03 08
  Total 16 05 21

 Total No of Students on the College Currently.

Department Year No. of Students
M F T
Plant science 2 21 7 28
3 21 11 32
Horticulture 2 14 6 20
Agro – Economics 2 18 6 24
3 10 2 12
4 – 2 2
Animal science 3 6 1 7
Total 90 35 125