Merkam Alemayehu

Ethiopian botanist who saved the highland barley crop through drought-resistant strains

Dr. Merkam Alemayehu (1912-1968) was an Ethiopian agricultural scientist whose work preserved the nation's staple crop during the 1950s famine crisis. Born in the Amhara region, she studied plant genetics at Addis Ababa University before becoming the first African woman to earn a PhD in botany from Wageningen University in 1939.

In 1953, she developed the 'Alemayehu-1' barley strain through cross-breeding local varieties with drought-resistant grasses. This innovation:

• Increased crop yields by 300% in arid regions
• Prevented famine during the 1961-1962 drought
• Remains the basis for modern Ethiopian barley production

Dr. Alemayehu also established Ethiopia's first seed bank in 1948 and trained over 200 African agriculturalists. Her methods influenced the Green Revolution strategies later adopted across the continent. The Merkam Agricultural Institute continues her work with climate-resilient crop research.

Recent studies show her techniques reduce water usage by 60% while maintaining yields, making them critical for today's climate challenges. Her work is featured in the British Museum's African Innovation exhibit.