Drought is one of the major constraints affecting food security and livelihoods of more than two billion people that reside on dry areas which constitute 41% of the world?s land surface. Drought is defined as deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time resulting in water scarcity. Our best minds should be concentrated where the greatest challenges lie today – on discoveries and new solutions to cope with the challenges facing dry areas particularly drought and water scarcity.

The dialogue on Ethiopian Agricultural Development was organized by the Ministry of

Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to honour Professor Gebisa Ejeta,

winner of the 2009 World Food Prize. The dialogue was held on 12 November 2009 at the

United Nations Conference Centre. It was opened by H.E. Ato Girma Woldegiorgis, President

of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.