Agriculture is still the backbone of the Ethiopian economy that supports about 80% of the total employment, constitutes 43% of the national GDP and is a source of 90% of the export. Cognizant of this fact, Hawassa University has a long history of supporting this sector for the last four decades through training, research, technological innovations and community services. Agriculture and natural resources management has been one of the core activities of community service undertakings of the University.

The following are some of the community outreach programs in agriculture and natural resources management

• • Promotion and pre-scaling up of variety food barley, malt barley and wheat in highland woredas of Sidama Regional state
  • Promotion and pre-scaling up of improved seed chickpea varieties in low land woredas of Sidama Regional state.
  • Promotion and pre-scaling out of common bean in selected woredas of Sidama Regional state
  • Introduction of improved potato verities and DLS technology for seed-producing farmers in highland woredas of Sidama Regional state.
  • Introduction of Soybean in selected midland woredas of the zone
  • Capacity building training for Development Agents, woeda and zone level experts as well as training for farmers on various areas; agronomy, crop protection, post-harvest handling and value addition, soil fertility management and small-scale irrigation in different districts of Sidama Regional state
  • Training on improving Traditional Enset (Enseteventricosum) processing techniques in the vicinity in different woredas of Sidama Regional state  
  • Vegetable and fruit production and marketing support