ADDIS ABABA – Oromia State’s Disaster Prevention Institution (Busa Gonofa) is cultivating crops on 18,000 hectares of land to address the impacts of natural and man-made disasters.
Busa Gonofa Head Moges Edaye told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the state aims to cultivate a total of 43,000 hectares of land. BusaGonofa will directly cultivate 24,000 hectares, while the remaining will be cultivated by branch offices in various districts.
It was learnt that a key focus of this initiative is to provide school feeding for nine million students in the state. A budget of 15 billion Birr has been allocated for this program. While 8,000 hectares of cultivated land are dedicated to school feeding, challenges remain due to the late start of the agricultural season.
Busa Gonofa has collected around 5,000 quintals of crops from the 18,000 hectares cultivated so far. The institution is collaborating with the Agriculture Bureau’s urban and rural safety net development programs to enhance these efforts.
Challenges facing the initiative include limited agricultural land, insufficient rainfall, and ongoing conflicts.
Busa Gonofa has 26 million members who contribute to the institution through membership fees and resource mobilization. These funds are used to support vulnerable populations, including students.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2024
