Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

Agricultural and Nutrition Research Laboratories Directorate

Ambo plant protection Research Center

Annual progress Report Oct 15 2014

Introduction ..................................................................................1

Laboratory renovation and rearrangements ................................................1

Test Methods validation, personnel proficiency test and data generations .............3

Photographic Illustrations of APPRC Laboratories Before and After Renovations ......4

Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials

movements ....................................................................................4

Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials

movements ....................................................................................5

None functional Labs equipment and materials moved to stored .........................6

Bacteriology lab previous view and reworking efforts .....................................6

Bacteriology lab present view ...............................................................7

Bio-control lab previous view and reworking efforts ......................................8

Bio-control lab present view after rework .................................................9

Distillation and washing room present view .............................................. 12

Laboratories staffs office, seat, computer and internet facilities .................... 12

Challenges .................................................................................. 13

Opportunities ............................................................................... 13

Future directions .......................................................................... 13

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

Agricultural and Nutrition Research Laboratories Directorate

Ambo plant protection Research Center

Annual progress Report Oct 15 2014

Introduction

Ambo plant protection Research Center has ten separate plant protection

laboratories viz., Bacteriology lab, Biocontrol lab, Mycology lab, Entomology lab and

quarantine, Virology lab, Nematology lab, Weed science lab, Cereal mycology

modern lab/greenhouse, Biosystematics and Modern glass and warehouse allotted

for all sections. Each of the labs is independently conduct and give service in plant

pest identification, detection or diagnosis to research centers, farmers,

stockholder etc., besides running its own research activities. Bacteriology and

biocontrol labs were recently selected as candidate for ISO 17025 accreditation

purpose. Before starting any activities and renovation we made awareness creation

to all research and management staffs. To prepare our laboratories for

accreditation or ISO 17025 purpose we have started the labs renovation by

rearranging the labs, disposing nonfunctional equipment, obsolete chemicals and

reagents, centralized collection and arrangement of glassware’s as per their types

and size for easy access. Generally, the following activities were conducted during

2013/14 by APPRC.

Laboratory renovation and rearrangements

• Assignment of laboratories personnel (QMR, Labs Head, stock man and

custodian).

• Awareness creation was given to all research staffs and management

members on the agricultural quality research manuals and direction of the

institute with respect to establish quality research laboratories and

provisions quality services to customers.

• Nonfunctional materials, equipment’s and others glasses were totally

removed from the laboratories and separated into disposable and

maintenance.

• Chemicals, reagents and Medias were identified and separated into different

rooms as obsolete and working.

• The laboratory rooms were demolished, painted and re-organized/arranged.

• The active working equipment and laboratories materials were rearranged

and placed into their correct site.

• Materials, equipment and others arrangement and register was completed.

• Chemicals, reagents, medias and obsolete once identified, registered and

correctly labeled.

• Washing, distillation and glassware room was separated, re-arranged and

centralized to make it easily accessible to the users.

• Shower room was maintained and remains active for laboratory staffs alone.

• Bacteriology, biocontrol, Custodian and stock man room also separately re-

arranged, renewed and painted well with color chosen for lab/white to the

required standard for labs.

• Light and water systems in the laboratories, washing and shower rooms were

renewed and adjusted to the required levels.

• Laboratories equipment were identified and calibrated to the standard

reference requirements.

• Laboratory researchers or personnel’s (5) were recruited, and repeatedly

trained on microbiological techniques and ISO 17025 requirements.

• Materials and supplies required for laboratories renovation were bought and

used.

Test Methods validation, personnel proficiency test and

data generations Bacteriology 11 and bio-control 4 test methods were validated and

submitted for accreditation purpose.

Five researchers in (bacteriology) and three researchers in (biocontrol)

laboratories were tested and equipped for proficiency test.

Data generation was done in both laboratories (bacteriology and

biocontrol). The following results were obtained/address by APPRC

laboratories:

No Laboratories Laboratories service results

Service

requested

Samples

registered

Report

number

Test result

reported

1 Bacteriology lab 0035 0190 0032 0183

2 Bio-c0ntrol lab 0008 0189 0008 0189

3 Mycology lab 0013 0042 0013 0042

4 Entomology lab 0003 0003 - -

Total 59 424 53 414

NB: Mycology and entomology labs are not candidate one for ISO 17025.

Laboratories internal audit was done and 17 non-conforming works were

identified. Both action report and registry form was filled for each NC and

corrective and preventive actions were taken.

Photographic Illustrations of APPRC Laboratories

Before and After Renovations

Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements

Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements

Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements

None functional Labs equipment and materials moved to stored

None functional Labs equipment and materials moved to stored

Bacteriology lab previous view and reworking efforts

Bacteriology lab previous view and reworking efforts

Bacteriology lab present view after renovations

Bacteriology lab present view after renovations

Bio-control lab previous view and reworking efforts

Bio-control lab present view after rework

Bio-control lab present view after rework

Distillation, glassware and washing room previous view

Distillation and washing room present view

Laboratories staffs office, seat, computer and internet facilities

Challenges

• Lack of awareness and well established ISO systems before

• Shortage of human power and staff turnover

• It is very tiresome and time consuming work/renovations since it is establishment

of new systems

• Shortage of personnel before new lab staffs recruitment and staff turnover. This

is because out of four personnel had training on the process, two of them leaved

the center and one changed his position.

• Some people blindly blocking changes or problems of positive attitude from some

researchers; they are carelessly looking their own work as somebody else or center

alone; rather than supporting they are blocking the change.

• Lack certified reference material or PT, b/c those materials are not allowed to

easy move in/out the country or its movement is restricted.

• Lack of competent plant protection laboratories which had certificate of ISO

17025 to make Inter laboratory comparison.

Opportunities

• Strong commitment and support from managements

• Committed and devoted persons availability

Future directions

• Uninterrupted awareness creation and training both labs and research staffs

• Training labs and research staffs on modern plant diseases diagnosis techniques and

extending our labs scopes of testing

• Strongly establishing ISO systems in our/APPRC or EAIR all plant protection labs

• Supporting the labs with budgets, facilities and capacity buildings

• Training labs staffs and arrange experience sharing; both inland and even abroad

By

Kassahun Sadessa

Ambo Plant Protection Research Center

Quality Agricultural and Nutrition Research Representative