Agricultural Research in Ethiopia began in Jimma and Ambo in 1952 and was extended to the then College of Agriculture at Alemaya in 1957 and later in 1965 included Debre Zeit. Realizing the importance of agricultural research in economic development the Ethiopian government established the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) in 1966 as a semiautonomous organization under the general supervision of the Ministerial Board of Directors.
The specific mandates of the Institution of Agricultural Research was to: Formulate national agricultural research policies, Coordinate national agricultural research Undertake research in its centers and sub-centers located in various agro-ecological zones of the country