ADDIS ABABA — The Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), and Ethio-Lease signed first pilot project agreement worth of 150 million USD for developing agricultural mechanization in the coming three years.
Briefing Journalists yesterday, State Minister of MoA, Sani Redi said that the main aim of the agreement is ensuring quality agricultural products via productiveness through utilizing modern farming mechanisms, agro chemicals, and developing comfortable plough lands.
According to Sani, out of 74,000,000 hectares of arable land which could be developed with modern technology, only ten percent of them are utilized until now. Apart from this, 30 to 40 percent of agricultural products are estimated wasteful during the harvesting period. Therefore, using modern agricultural mechanization is not only an alternative solution; but also it is compulsory to ensure quality agricultural productivity.
Production and Productivity Vertical at ATA, Chimdo Anchala said on his part that the responsibility of the Agency is identifying agricultural problems, forming alternative solutions; providing mechanization services, and the like so as to ensure productiveness in Ethiopia through working with stakeholders.
As to Chimdo, 300 woredas are encouraged to implement an extension pilot project under the agricultural cluster consolidation (ACC) center that has become functional in one window. This has been playing significant role for increasing productivities during the past few years. In this regard, ATA built ten Mechanization service centers which cost about 9.1 million birr per center.
The mechanization centers are located in Amhara, Oromiya, SNNP, and Tigray states which share 3, 4, 2, and 1 respectively, Chimdo added. Chairman of EthioLease, Girma Wake said that EthioLease came from USA last August following the government’s official call to foreign investors to invest in the country. The main reason is to contribute for the growth of agricultural sectors and ensure mutual benefits.
According to Girma, the main responsibility of the Ethiolease is supporting finance and providing agricultural instruments that have significant contribution for the booming agricultural sectors. In this regard, it has given nine tractors and two bulky generators; while other 48 tractors, medical equipment, and eight heavy generators are on process to import in the near future.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 29/2020
BY MESERET BEHAILU
