Although over 80 percent of Ethiopian people are engaged in farming activity for their livelihood, there has been some limitation that can hinder to boost bumper agricultural productivity. Among the various challenges, the traditional agricultural system is one of the critical factors in the country that pulls the nation back not to attain the desired crop products. Coordinator at Common Sense Amare Mugoro told The Ethiopian Herald said that the the project is providing timely information to farmers to solve these and other related problems via information communication technologies.
The project has also taken different measures in order to realize farmer’s beneficiary and realize crop productivities in the country. According to Amare, Common Sense is one of the projects supported by Netherland’s Foreign Affairs in the name of ‘’Geo Data for Agriculture.’’ It was playing vital role for farmers to safeguard their products from natural damages.
Apart from this, various stockholders, namely; Ministry of Agriculture, the National Metrology Agency, and the Federal Cooperative Agency are actively participated to actualize the intended goal in Ethiopia.
The project was started four years ago in Ethiopia which planned to address 200,000 farmers in the selected states of Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, Amare stated.
“Though the project is new in Ethiopia; the three regional states are selected based on their capacity to boost agricultural potential and have suitable weather condition to launch the project.’’
On the other hand, lack of organized information, society’s awareness and adequate budget are among the factors that hinder to further achieve in the selected three regional states across the country, he added.
Dr. Allard Dewit Senior, Scientst at Wagenigen University in Neatherland, on his part said that this project aimed at improving the livelihood of smallholder farmers through increasing productivity and income as well as providing weather forecast information.
As to him, Ethiopia has good opportunities to effectively operate the project in its confortable climate and suitable soil.
On the other hand, the existence of integrations between different unions and stockholders are the other significance advantageous of the project to maximize farmers’ productivity, he believed.
Crop Development Director at Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Essayas Lemma stated that due to the three-fourth of Ethiopian communities are working on farm, it needs to modernize the overall agricultural system.
According to the Director, the Common Sense Project has playing vital role in Ethiopia used as a means of working cooperatively, and sharing the experience that would strive farmers’ benefits in the country.
Farmers particularly in most parts of the country depend on rain fed agriculture to produce crops. Thus, the farmers should obtain timely information about the weather condition of their living area, thereby helps to collect their crops timely and reduce risks on products.
While the Common Sense is crucial to realize active decision making on saving crop production, the country could not benefit from the project for the longest time, he noted.
In fact, digitalizing agriculture was previously not much known in Ethiopia, but the current project is ongoing to support the distribution of early warning information adequately.
Collaborated with other stockholders, the Ministry provides market information and facilitation system for farmers to ensure the benefiting of farmers that simply help them sell their products without putting much effort and losing more expenses, he noted.
Manager of Agriculture Portfolio at Apposit Technology Solution, Eliyass Gossaye on his part said that, their unions are providing market linkage with the farmers and buyers in a transparent way.
In this regard, automation has been playing significant role to reduce farmer’s burden in relation with minimizing costs spending to know weather conditions of the week.
In addition to this, 150,000 farmers are benefited from SMS market linkage to buy fertilizer and get other services. Currently, over one million farmers have been benefiting and will also get modern service in the coming years.
Herald December 15/2018
BY MESERET BEHAILU
