To: The Center for Development Research (ZEFa), University of Bonn

Germany: Date July 8/2014

Subject: Motivation letter for PhD study

As I am from one of the poorest countries in the world (Ethiopia), I have always
deemed of furthering my education in agriculture and contribute my part in the country’s
effort to achieve food security. Being a developing country; Ethiopia depends on

agriculture mainly on crop production especially maize-based farming system;

however, the communities could not satisfy and secure their food demands. The
majority of our population is agrarian, so any effort towards achieving food self
sufficiency should involve agriculture. In order to develop the agriculture sector to the
level that it becomes sustainable, the government should invest in agriculture more and
to succeed in this respect trained man power is needed in the field of agriculture,
sustainability and related fields. I have my first and second degree in Plant Sciences

and Land Resources Management, and if I get the opportunity to further in the
fields of agriculture and food security, it will equip me with the skills and knowledge
that will help me better contribute to my country’s effort to achieve food self sufficiency
through conducting independent and problem solving research, giving advice to policy
makers and farmers. Moreover, the long training program will enable me to acquire
knowledge and skills that help to overcome new professional challenges in academic
theory and intensive researches gained through the program held at the University
of Bonn, Germany. I am confident that I will have the skills, knowledge and contacts
that will enable me to deal with the issues of roles of agriculture development in food
security for my country, Ethiopia.
Thank you for your consideration in advance.

The applicant, Gizachew Ayalew Tiruneh