JICA reveals a five year research project

By Abdurezak Mohammed

ADDIS ABABA – A five year research project that aims to reduce road disaster on problematic soil, financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was launched here yesterday, The Ethiopian Herald learnt.

The research titled “Project for Development and Operation Model of Plant-Derived Soil Additives for Road Disaster Reduction on Problematic Soil” is implemented in Addis Ababa City and Jinka, South Omo Zone in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ State (SNNPS) with total budget of 3.17 USD, as The Ethiopian Herald learnt from the launching workshop.

The research project led by Kyoto University (Japanese side) is also partnered with its counterpart Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) (Ethiopian side, research lead), Jinka University (JU), and Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA).

The site for lab-work and experiments related to application of problematic soil to roadbeds and base courses is Addis Ababa and South Omo Zone in SNNP would be a place where other activities related to development of cellulose-based soil additives and operation model of construction measures for problematic soil are carried out.

The goal of the project is to develop and apply a plant-derived soil stabilizing additive to construct and maintain all-weather roads, in a sustainable manner where problematic soil is relevant, said Prof. Mesay Daniel Representative of joint researchers and implementing agencies.

This project will produce a road improvement model, which will be presented to ERA as a guideline for future rural road development projects, it was learnt.

The implementation period is from April 2019 – March 2024.