ADDIS ABABA—Amhara State AgricultureBureau said that 107,778 hectares of land are being cultivated with rice as well as 300,000 hectares of land is cover with wheat in this farming season so far.
Bureau Head,DresseSahilu (PhD)told The Ethiopian Herald that the state is working to harvest 169 million quintals from various crops during this crop season by cultivating 5.1 million hectares of land.
State will achieve this plan by using agriculture technologies he said adding this they have planned to cultivate 800,000 hectares by tractors but have cultivated over 900,000 hectares.
“They have distributed agriculture inputs such as fertilizers as well as distributed over 163,000 quintals of various improved seeds.”
So far 6.9 million quintals fertilize has been distributed to the farming community anddistribution and transporting of fertilizer in this cultivation season was improved and the remaining task is agronomic practice and follows up, Dresse said.
He said rice production is expanding to the various areas in the state including North Gojjam, West Gojam, Central Gondar and other zones showing progress from previous years.
He added 107,778 and300,000 hectares of land are being cultivated with rice and wheat respectively.
“Compost preparation, natural resource protection and development work activities are need mobilization of people by mass.”
2.5 million hectares of land is suitable for irrigation activities but we only develop 300,000 hectares in the state. The main problem is the lack of irrigationdevices but intervention work is being implementing to supply tools to farming community like motor pump, by using supplementary irrigation produce different crops in farming season.
“We are preparing to carryout irrigation mobilization and then we will provide orientation to farmers and leaders toraise crop productivity thereby harvest huge crops.”
We are providing training for farmers and filling the extension gap as well.
The distribution of rainfall has creating favorable condition for agriculture which help to produce more crops thereby ensure food security, Dresse noted.
The state has planted 1.4 billion saplings in this farming season by mobilization the community to achieve green legacy initiative across the nation, as to him.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
The Ethiopian Herald September 8/2024
