Biography
Early Life and Background
Dr Kifle Belachew Bekele was born in 1978 in Kafa, Shishinda, in the Southwest Region of Ethiopia. Growing up in this coffee heartland profoundly shaped his outlook, nurturing a deep appreciation for the ecological, cultural and economic importance of forest and coffee to the communities. This early exposure to traditional coffee cultivation and forest-based livelihoods would later inspire his lifelong commitment to sustainable coffee production, plant health management and rural development.
He is an Ethiopian national and is proficient in English, Amharic and Kaffi Noono, which has enabled him to work effectively with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, from smallholder farmers and rural communities to national and international research partners.
Education and Academic Formation
Driven by an early interest in agriculture and rural transformation, Dr Kifle pursued formal training in agricultural sciences with a strong focus on coffee and crop protection. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Jimma University in 2005. This foundational training provided him with broad expertise in crop production, agronomy and horticultural systems, and it marked the beginning of his professional engagement with coffee research. Building on this background, he completed a Master of Science degree in Crop Protection in 2008. His MSc work strengthened his specialization in plant pathology, pest and disease management, and integrated crop health, laying the groundwork for his later scientific contributions on coffee diseases and their management.
From 2017 to 2022, he pursued and successfully completed his PhD in Horticulture with a specialization in Coffee Science at Jimma University. His doctoral research focused on the epidemiology, population biology and management of coffee leaf rust and other major coffee diseases in Ethiopia, integrating advanced plant pathology, mycology and climate-related analyses. This work positioned him as one of the leading scientific experts on coffee health management.
Beyond his research contributions, leadership and institution-building have been defining features of Dr Kifle’s career. His roles have combined scientific coordination, management of research centers and active participation in professional societies.
Earlier, he served as Centre Director of Bonga Agricultural Research Centre from September 2008 to September 2011, where he led multi-disciplinary research programs, technology dissemination activities and partnerships with local government and rural communities.
Teaching, Training and Academic Engagement
Complementing his research and leadership roles, Dr Kifle has been deeply involved in university teaching, curriculum development and professional training in coffee science and plant protection.
He has developed and delivered specialized courses such as Coffee Science and Technology at Bonga University (2019–2023) and Dilla University (2020–2023). He has contributed to curriculum development for postgraduate programs in Coffee Science at Bonga University, helping to institutionalize advanced coffee education within Ethiopian universities.
He has also taught Plant Pathology and Crop Protection at Salale University and delivered seminars and guest lectures internationally. Notably, in October 2018 he gave a seminar on coffee protection at Federal Universty of Viçosa, Brazil, contributing Ethiopian perspectives and research evidence to global discussions on coffee health.
Since 2015, he has served as major and co-advisor for multiple MSc students across several universities, including Jimma, Hawassa, Ambo, Bonga and Mizan Tepi Universities.
Scientific Contributions and Publications
Dr Kifle is an active scientist with a strong publication record in international and national journals, as well as extensive conference presentations. His research focuses on coffee leaf rust, coffee wilt disease, thread blight, weed ecology, IPM, soybean rust and broader issues of crop protection and food security. He published more than 30 manuscripts at National and International Journals. Dr Kifle has presented numerous technical papers at international and regional conferences, including the International Conference on Coffee Science (ASIC), the Inter-African Coffee Organization annual scientific conferences, Asian Coffee Association meetings and various Ethiopian scientific forums.
Vision, Career Goals and Ongoing Commitment
As Senior Researcher and Assistant Professor at Bonga University, Dr Kifle’s overarching career goal is to become a renowned consultant, trainer and educator in sustainable coffee production and marketing. Drawing on his technical training, decades of field experience and deep familiarity with Ethiopia’s coffee sector, he aims to contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable coffee cultivation, agroforestry, processing and marketing systems that enhance food security, nutrition and income for small-scale coffee farming communities.
He is particularly committed to designing and promoting rural development programs that generate employment, diversify livelihood options, strengthen resilience to climate change and foster conservation of Ethiopia’s unique coffee forests and biodiversity.
Through his roles in research, extension, consulting and training, he continues to bridge science and practice, ensuring that advances in coffee science translate into tangible benefits for farmers, value-chain actors and the broader Ethiopian economy.
