The National Soil Testing Center (NSTC) in Ethiopia has 18 soil analysis laboratories in various government ministries. The presenter, Fikre Mekuria, notes that the NSTC's strengths are its analytical service delivery, training, and research on soil microbiology and fertility. Areas for improvement include capacity building, sample exchange/quality control, and accreditation to international standards. The presenter's expectations for the meeting and GLOSOLAN network are to develop competency in soil/plant/water/fertilizer analysis, have periodic country member meetings, and share experiences.

1. Laboratory name: National Soil Testing Center (NSTC)
Country: Ethiopia
Name of the presenter: Fikre Mekuria

2. Soil analysis in your country
How many routine laboratories exist in your country?
18 laboratories in the Ministry of agriculture and others
in EIAR, MoW, MoH, EPA and Private exist in my country.
Are they ‘mobile’ laboratories?
No
Are soil test kits commonly used?
Yes, Soil Auger, Soil Color charts, Core cutters, Soil pH
meter, Moister tester, test sieves etc…

3. Strength/weakness
What do you think your lab is strong at?
Analytical service delivery
Training staffs and clients in soil, plant, water and fertilizer
sampling and analyzung
Research on soil microbiology
Research on soil fertility
What do you think it could be improved?
Capacity building, both human and infrastructure
Sample exchange and quality control
IR data interpretation methods
Accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025) in all testing activities to meet
international standards and be technically competent

4. What are your expectations out of this meeting and
GLOSOLAN?
Competency, accuracy and method development in soil, plant,
water and fertilizer in analytical services.
Periodically meeting among country members
Networking among soil laboratory managers
Sharing experiences

5. Photos of the enteral and
external parts of the lab.

6. Main entrance to
NSTC

7. Guard bldg. & generator
bldg.

8. Basement
chemical storage rooms

9. To bldg. entrance

10. Stairs leading to
entrance

11. stairs

12. Walkway around
entrance

13. Sample receiving

14. Sample grinding
cubicles

15. Current warehouse/
greenhouse

16. Warehouse side
view

17. Analysis room

18. Analysis room

19. Analysis room

20. Analysis room

21. Liginit for the production
of bio-fertilizer

22. Maintenance
room

23. Thanks for your
attention