MASHAV, USAID’s contribution for Ethiopian Horticulture Development
It is unquestionable that the overall agro-ecology zone of Ethiopia is suitable for horticulture development and other crop kinds. However, the country has not yet reaped the expected volume of yields due to many reasons. The nation has different water alternatives, ample labor force, and friendly climate and fecund soil kinds. What then does remain? The only remaining thing is industriousness that is attended by commitment.
Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has attached due attention to bolstering horticulture development. Consequently, it has begun the task of capacitating farmers and stakeholders to increase the effectiveness of this sector in adapting technologies. In so doing, it works in concert and harmony with different partners such as (USAID of America, MASHAV of Israel, and SHEP of Japan) .As facts on the ground indicate these partners have a significant contribution for Ethiopian Horticulture Development.
Supported by (USAID, MASHAV) Youth Tilahun Fekadu and his friends are cultivating avocado in cluster on a 5-hectare land utilizing Koga irrigation project in North Mecha Woreda (Amhara).
“Previously, we had been cultivating pulses such as wheat, maize, barely, malt barely among others but the return was not that much. Hence, we have begun to cultivate fruits (especially avocado) utilizing irrigation; comparing to other crops, cultivating avocado has extra profit because it is productive,” Tilahun said.
“In addition, we have adopted inter cropping (wheat, malt, onions) with avocado. Even the avocado will be ripe enough next months; so far, we had sold scion for 200 thousand Birr for the community so that they could use it for multiplication purpose,” he said.
Tilahun added, “Supplying us the equipment, MASHAV has given us training on solar drip irrigation that makes our farming easy”.
According to Tilahun, Avocado needs day-to-day tending, so someone should get training to cultivate it. Aall farmers have not been cultivating the same crop at the same crop calendar at Koga. That affects managing water resources keeping their turn, as to Tilahun.
We found Wale Getaneh, Senior export and vice coordinator of Smallholder Horticulture Project, who has supported farmers in Koga irrigation. According Wale, this is a trilateral project (USAID of America, MASHAV of Israel, & MoA of Ethioipia) which was launched a decade back. It is operational on four main regions: Amhara (Mecha), Tigray (Wuqiro), Oromia (Jimma), SNNPR (Butajira).
The project aims at introducing Ethiopian avocado products for European market.
This project has supported the community through planting nurseries, setting under shed nets at Piccolo Seedling Multiplication Center, in Mecha woreda. They use SOLAR drip irrigation, which has a capacity of generating 265w.The required facilities are donated by the project. The shed net, the first, in the history of the nation (applied in Mecha and Butajira), gives 60 percent as shade and 40 percent as light penetrate. There, it creates temporary job for about 160 youths. Therefore, about 120- thousand seedlings are ready this summer.
“We have supported the farmers technically. We gave them training on how to cultivate based on cluster method that allows the proper application of drip irrigation nearby. Since fruit tree is a long-term investment, now they are becoming beneficiaries through selling scion for other farmers, which is expensive and profitable,” Wale said.
As to him, many countries like Israel, Netherlands and others have become developed applying horticulture effectively; therefore, our government should give special attention for horticulture development. Currently, over 2700 farmers are beneficiary who are supported under this project, as to Wale.
“We have also paid a visit to Qurqur nursery site in Debire Elias woreda 27 kilometer away from Debire Markos that is backed by AGP.
The flora and fauna are heartening. In fact, tuning to the chirruping of birds and also enjoying the fresh air the trees exude is refreshing.”
This seedling site is run by 19 members (16 females) under Asre and Meseret and their friends’ seedling union, which has saved 95 thousand Birr on their account. Whenever summer sets in, they distribute quarantine-approved seedlings (avocado and coffee) for farmers living in their village. Even they do the same for customers of other wordas (Hulteju, Enarji Enawga,Yejube, Machakel and the like).
Currently, this union is so ready to distribute over 60 thousand seedlings (avocado and coffee) for given community.
Tekeba Tebabl, Deputy Head of Amhara State Agriculture Bureau, said that the state has been allocating 60 million Birr for seedling development every year, which indicates the attention it gave for this sector. Furthermore, we have promoted cluster-based cultivation of high value crops, on selected four vegetables and six fruit kinds.
“To tackle the problem of managing water resources constantly, we have been organizing horticulture cultivators to grow the same crop at the same crop calendar (not one farmer early the other one lately),” Tekeba said.
“We are doing with MASHAV and UASID to produce quality products in this sector .We aspire to fulfill standards and join the requirements of Europe market. Taking this in to account, we have been supplying processing store, and cooling house, and generators, which will give service next year, the deputy head said.
The Ethiopian Herald June 23/2019
BY BAHIRU SETEGNE (From MoA)
