Irrigation & Agricultural Infrastructure

Belachew
Mehari Beyene

Thirty-three years turning feasibility studies into working canals, pump stations and pivot fields across Ethiopia and East Africa — from a 6,700 ha canal inspection in 1993 to directing a 5,000 TPD cement plant today.

33yrs

In irrigation & agro-infrastructure, since 1993

200,000+ha

Cane area covered by projects he has directed

38assignments

Feasibility, design & construction roles delivered

9countries

Technical exposure & training visits abroad

Belachew Mehari Beyene
About

Irrigation engineer.
Project director.

Belachew Mehari Beyene has spent thirty-three years in irrigation and agro-industrial infrastructure — from inspecting canal structures under British consultant Booker Tate on the 6,700 ha Finchaa West Bank in 1993, to today directing a 5,000 TPD cement plant project as Portfolio Manager at Abay Industrial Development.

Along the way he has covered 200,000+ hectares of planned cane development across Ethiopia's major sugar projects, assessed drip-irrigation estates in Kenya, and carried out design and construction assignments in nine countries. He holds a BSc in Irrigation Engineering and is completing an MSc in Project Planning & Management.

Download CV CV — 1 page
01

Career, in brief

Eight roles that trace the arc — from canal inspector to portfolio director. The full 31-role record is one click away.

  1. 2023 — present

    Portfolio & Project Manager

    Abay Industrial Development · Ethiopia

    Formulation & delivery of the company's 5,000 TPD cement plant project — financing, contract administration, logistics.

  2. 2023 — present

    Senior Irrigation Engineer

    AGRIPOL Int'l Consultancy (KISCOL) · Kenya

    Assessing a 7,000 ha drip-irrigation estate and preparing an integrated irrigation & agricultural plan.

  3. 2018 — 2023

    Sugar Project Coordinator

    Abay Industrial Development SC · Ethiopia

    Reviewed and updated the feasibility study for the planned Tana Beles-II sugar complex.

  4. 2015 — 2017

    Infrastructure Development Project Manager

    Saudi Star Agricultural Dev't · Ethiopia

    Rice-production irrigation across the Gambella scheme; center-pivot design for Cheleleki coffee farm.

  5. 2011 — 2015

    Director, Agricultural Projects Directorate

    Ethiopian Sugar Corporation · Ethiopia

    Land, irrigation & mechanization lead across Omo, Tana Beles, Kessem, Wolkite, Tendaho, Finchaa & Wonji — 200,000+ ha.

  6. 2007 — 2011

    Irrigation & Agriculture Expansion Project Manager

    Wonji/Shoa Sugar Factory · Ethiopia

    Automated sprinkler system at Wake Tio & Dodota — 120 km pipe network, 561 resettlement houses delivered.

  7. 2005 — 2007

    Head, Agricultural & Infrastructure Projects Dept.

    Finchaa Sugar Factory · Ethiopia

    Feasibility & design of the 7,000 ha Finchaa East Bank pressurized cane development.

  8. 1993 — 2004

    Irrigation Civil Works Inspector → Maintenance Supervisor

    Finchaa Sugar Factory · Ethiopia

    Cut his teeth under British consultant Booker Tate on the 6,700 ha West Bank canal & sprinkler system.

PeriodRoleOrganizationCountry
Mar 2023 — presentPortfolio & Project ManagerAbay Industrial DevelopmentEthiopia
Aug 2023 — presentSenior Irrigation EngineerAGRIPOL Int'l Consultancy (KISCOL)Kenya
Nov 2018 — Feb 2023Sugar Project CoordinatorAbay Industrial Development SCEthiopia
Apr 2022 — Sep 2024Senior Irrigation Engineer (freelance)Tapanta Depot Trading PlcEthiopia
Jan 2022 — May 2022Team Leader (freelance)AGRIPOL Int'l Consultancy & TrainingEthiopia
Jan 2020 — Jun 2020ConsultantMetaferia Consulting EngineersEthiopia
Sep 2020 — Jun 2021ConsultantEthio Coffee FCEthiopia
Jul 2019 — Jun 2021ConsultantShodeb EngineeringEthiopia
Oct 2019 — Apr 2020Technical AdvisorDagim Dereje IMPEX PLCEthiopia
Feb 2018 — Jul 2018Project CoordinatorAbaya Gelana Agro IndustryEthiopia
Jul 2016 — presentAssociate ConsultantAGRIPOL Int'l Consultancy & TrainingEthiopia
Jul 2016 — Jan 2018Senior Irrigation Engineer (Consultant)Abaya Gelana Agro IndustryEthiopia
Oct 2017 — Jan 2018Senior Irrigation Consultant (freelance)National Tobacco EnterpriseEthiopia
Oct 2017 — Apr 2018Associate ConsultantIndustrial Project Services (IPS)Ethiopia
Oct 2016 — Feb 2017ConsultantMersa Habru Mixed Agric. Dev't PLCEthiopia
Nov 2015 — Sep 2017Infrastructure Dev't Project ManagerSaudi Star Agricultural Dev't PLCEthiopia
Feb 2011 — Dec 2015Director, Agricultural Projects DirectorateEthiopian Sugar CorporationEthiopia
Dec 2013 — Dec 2015Board MemberAgricultural Mechanization Service EnterpriseEthiopia
Feb 2010 — Feb 2011Agriculture & Infrastructure Dev't Project ManagerWonji/Shoa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
Aug 2007 — Feb 2010Irrigation & Agriculture Expansion Project ManagerWonji/Shoa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
2009 — 2010ConsultantWater Works Design & Supervision EnterpriseEthiopia
2009 — 2014ConsultantFRI-EL Green Power Ethiopia PlcEthiopia
Sep 2005 — Aug 2007Head, Agricultural & Infrastructure Projects Dept.Finchaa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
Aug 2004 — Sep 2005Senior Project ExpertFinchaa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
Jul 2002 — Aug 2004Irrigation Maintenance SupervisorFinchaa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
Sep 1998 — Jul 2002BSc Program / Summer Maintenance SupervisorArbaminch Water Tech. InstituteEthiopia
May 1997 — Sep 1998Irrigation Civil Works InspectorGO3 Project / Booker TateEthiopia
Oct 1996 — May 1997Irrigation Maintenance SupervisorFinchaa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
Nov 1995 — Oct 1996Acting Irrigation Maintenance SupervisorFinchaa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
Feb 1993 — Nov 1995Irrigation Civil Works InspectorFinchaa Sugar FactoryEthiopia
02

Field-tested infrastructure

Seven assignments spanning 200,000+ hectares of planned cane and rice development. Specs are as reported in the project record.

03

Education & standing

Education

MSc, Project Planning & Management

YOM Institute of Economic Development Thesis ongoing

BSc, Irrigation Engineering

Arbaminch Water Technology Institute 2002

Advanced Diploma, Irrigation & Drainage Engineering

Arbaminch Water Technology Institute 1992

Member, IRUN

Irrigation Rainfine United Nationalities since 2015

Other training

Center Pivot & Sprinkler Systems

Rainfine Irrigation Technology, Dalian, China 2015

Agricultural & Farm Management

Regional Training Center, Reduit, Mauritius 2012

Kaizen Training

Ethiopian Kaizen Institute, Addis Ababa 2012

Project Management for Ag. Professionals

SIMTC, Manzini, Swaziland 2006

Supervisory Management

Ethiopian Management Institute 2003

Technical exposure

USA

Center pivot systems — Nebraska & Kansas

Brazil

Cozan-Rhizan sugar complexes, Embrapa research center

China

CAMC/SINOMACH mechanization, RAINFINE pivot systems

India

Jain Irrigation Systems hydraulic institution

South Africa

Tongat-Hullet estate, Bell Agricultural Equipment

Sudan

Kenana & White Nile sugar estates

Mauritius

Medine estate, Mauritian Sugar Industry Research Institute

Mozambique

Sena Sugar estate

Swaziland

Simunye Sugar estate

LanguagesAmharic NativeEnglish FluentOromiffa BasicItalian Basic

Let’s talk water & infrastructure

Available for irrigation, agro-industrial and infrastructure consulting assignments — feasibility through commissioning.

Emailbelmehari@yahoo.com
Phone+251 911 00 5663
Based inEthiopia