ADDIS ABABA– Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) said that it has benefited 1.5 million people by implementing 32 development projects over the past two years.
Esubalew Dires Information Communication Technology Director at ORDA told The Ethiopian Herald the organization has been engaged in soil and water conservation, integrated watershade management, reforestation, small scale irrigation construction activities and providing agricultural technologies in 55 districts of Amhara State.
He also noted that the programs have been implemented focusing on changing the livelihood of smallholder farmers. It also gives priority in addressing issues such as gender, nutrition and HIV AIDS.
Esubalew said ORDA,in collaboration with other partners, has also provided food aid, relief and rehabilitation service for thousands of Ethiopian returnees from Sudan and other countries.
In terms of Environment and forest development programs the Organization has been putting planting new and indigenous tree species over the past twenty two years, added Esubalew. According to him, more than 100 million tree seedlings have been planted on 129 hectares of land in Amhara State in the above mentioned two decades with its community-based greening program.
As a result, ORDA won the national Green Award in the year 2017. “We have also distributed and planted 177,016 hybrid mango and Orange seedlings for 13,025??, which covered 637 hectares of land,”, said Esubalew adding by constructing over 4,760 safewater supply schemes that benefited more than 1.8 million people, ORDA has contributed to 14% to 16% of the regional clean and safe drinking water coverage.
ORDA has also constructed 183 small scale irrigation schemes, which can potentially harvest 12,017 hectares of land benefiting 67,957 households in the state, according to him. The Organization will celebrate its 35th anniversary in the near future, noted Esubalew.
The Ethiopian Herald, June 30/2019
BY HENOK TIBEBU
