BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative is an exemplary, ambitious national flagship initiative launched in 2019 aiming to plant more than 20 billion tree seedlings by 2022. So far, the people and the government of Ethiopia have proudly managed and already planted some 18 billion seedlings from 2019 to 2021.
This year the nation will resume the fourth batch of the Green Legacy initiative. Accordingly, more than 500 million fruit tree seedlings are set for the 2022 edition of the Green Legacy Tree Planting Initiative in Ethiopia which will be launched within the next two weeks.
The main objectives of the Green Legacy Initiative are combating climate change and related impacts. According to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, planting tree seedlings has an impact to avert flooding and environment-related conflicts.
It also restores the country’s green coverage, eliminating erosion and pollution, reducing conflicts arising due to environmental degradation and reduction of natural resources, and measures to support the agricultural sector, he added.
More importantly, the initiative is imperative to ensure food security across the country. Ethiopia has been working strenuously not only to mitigate climate change but also to ensure its food security via planting tree seedlings, summer white development, and so on. Especially, this year’s Green Legacy initiative has planned to plant edible fruit seedlings for the coming Ethiopian winter seasons.
The National Green Legacy Initiative Technical Committee Coordinator Adefires Worku said Avocado, papaya, mango, and apple are the main edible fruit seedlings to be planted this year. These edible seedlings will be imperative for self-sufficiency in food and increase the economic benefits of the communities.
Addis Ababa City Administration Urban Beauty and Green Development Bureau Deputy Head Yimegnushal Tadesse said the various preparations are underway to plant more than 7.4 million seedlings this summer. Among others, 20 percent of the 7.4 million seedlings planted this winter are vegetables and fruits.
Harari Regional State President Ordin Bedri noted that several preparations have been underway for Green Legacy Initiative. Hence, the region has paid special attention to the Initiative to be successful. Moreover, 70 percent of the seedlings planted in the region this year are edible fruits and vegetables. This will go a long way in ensuring food security and reducing the cost of living.
Prime Minister Office Press Secretary Billene Seyoum elucidated that during the upcoming rainy season, the implementation of the Green Legacy initiative will be completed. This year the people and the government of Ethiopia mark the final year of the four-year green legacy initiative which was embarked upon in 2019.
Indeed, the Green Legacy Initiative has been initiated in 2019 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to address various environmental challenges by promoting a green culture. In that year, the people of Ethiopia planted over 4 billion while in 2020, 5 billion seedlings were planted. In 2021, over 6 billion trees have also been planted. To further achieve the plan of the initiative in 2022, the concerned body will be launched within the next two weeks, she said.
Ethiopian Meteorology Institute Director- General Fetene Teshome said that climate change creates flood insecurity and drought not only in Ethiopia but also in East African countries. To mitigate these challenges, it is imperative to strengthen meteorological infrastructure and service to get modern data and improve service.
According to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, enhancing the efforts of the Green Legacy Initiative will help to address a number of various intertwined issues which ensure agricultural productivity and food security across the country. Hence, the country should pay due attention to water and soil management practices in the coming rainy seasons.
Moreover, “the coming rainy season is a milestone not only to achieve the 2022 edition of the Green Legacy Tree Planting Initiative, but also to plant fruits and vegetables in our gardens and compounds. So we shouldn’t miss this rainy season,” he underlined.
The 2022 edition of the Green Legacy Tree Planting Initiative is a key to evaluating past performances and further planning techniques, procedures, and methods for the initiative. So, using it properly this summer is imperative to mitigate climate change and ensure food security.
The Ethiopian Herald June 15/2022
