– Abiy, Isaias inaugurate irrigation project, visit seedlings nurseries and JoyTech Farm
ADDIS ABABA- The inauguration of Meki- Zeway Irrigation Development project is showcasing that Ethiopia and Eritrea spare no effort in improving the livelihoods of both countries’ people in the age of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and the visiting Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki inaugurated yesterday a 292-million-Birr Irrigation Project and visited the Dugda woreda seedlings nursery in East Shewa Zone of Oromia State.
In his remark at the inauguration ceremony, Premier Abiy stated that the government pays due attention to execute its entrusted responsibility to ensure the benefit of the public apart from delivering irrigation projects.
The PM indicated that activities are underway to import up to 10,000 water pumps until the end of the current Ethiopian fiscal year in a view to increasing product and productivity in farmlands. “The country has been hugely working to quit wheat imports in the coming 1-2 years and this project is part of the nationwide effort.
Noting that the farmers are expected to utilize the water project and enhance product and productivity thereby changing livelihoods, Dr. Abiy reaffirmed his government’s commitment to train farmers and create market linkages and supporting them to improve revenue.
The visiting Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki said for his part that irrigation projects and other development activities would be used as bridges to consolidate the historic relations between the two countries.
“My colleagues and I have drawn significant experience from such exemplary project and I hope similar projects would have a pivotal importance in our vision of building strong people-to-people ties via improving peoples’ livelihoods.”
Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister Dr.-Ing. Seleshi Bekele said that the government has given prime attention to irrigation development in a bid to address food shortages and build the country’s capacity to export food to the global market. Every actor should attach utmost priority to water resource administration.
Sharing the above, Oromia State Deputy President Shemeles Abdissa indicated that attention has been given to capitalize on the area’s enormous potential to fruit and vegetable production in such a way ensuring benefits for farmers and the nearby community alike.
It was indicated that Meki- Zeway Irrigation Development Project has the capacity to develop 2,000 hectares of land and plan was set to expand to develop 15,000 hectares.
Meanwhile, the two leaders visited Flora-vegi fruit and vegetables seedlings nursery prior to the irrigation project inauguration.
Flora-vegi fruit and vegetables seedlings nursery is a local firm with the capacity to germinate up to 20 million fruit and vegetable seedlings.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that the nursery has been playing a significant role in supporting irrigation development, a priority of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector.
President Isaias Afwerki also visited the Israeli owned JoyTech Farm in Bishoftu late yesterday. The farm specializes in the production of herbs, seeds and seedlings, using advanced & innovative Israeli technologies
The Eritrean leader and his delegation arrived in Addis Ababa Sunday for a two-day official visit. They visited some sites in Addis Ababa later in the afternoon.
President Sahle-Work Zewde also hosted a luncheon for the President and his delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Adviser Yemane Gebre-ab.
The Ethiopian Herald May 5/2020
BY BILAL DERSO
