ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands (MILLs) said that it is carrying out multifaceted projects to mitigate nature-caused calamities and ensure food security.
Irrigation Sector State Minister Birhanu Lenjiso (PhD) told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the ministry is exerting utmost efforts to leverage the country’s immense ground water potential in a bid to nullify flood, drought and ensure food security sustainably.
Along with respective regions, Berhanu underscored that his ministry has been conducting meaningful feasibility studies and designs thereby contributing hundreds of development documents annually. So far, it has developed a total of 1.6 million hectares of land in a regular irrigation scheme and many more are on pipeline, he said, adding that some 800 million hectares are their remaining home works.
“Despite some glitches in the irrigation development projects, the country has been registering a remarkable achievement in the last two years,” he noted.
Two ground water and two surface water projects have resumed operation in Oromia, Afar and Somali regions this fiscal year despite many challenges in regard to shortage of inputs, security and natural disaster, he said. Currently, the ministry is undertaking about 17 projects at the federal level, he added.
Similarly, other projects are being undertaken in other parts of that country. Furthermore, the ministry is also engaging in some rehabilitation activities on Megech, Rib, Arjo-Dedesa and many other irrigation projects.
As the country’s agricultural activity is more based on a rain fed system, he emphasized that the irrigation project has a huge significance to build climate resilience, enhance production cycle and productivity to help ensure food security.
In the same vein, irrigation projects would be of paramount importance to tackle flood and drought vulnerability, thus acquiring about 30,000 hectares of land from floods over last year, he noted.
Lack of experts and companies in the area, capital, land compensation fee, security and design related problems are impacting the sector, he pointed out.
BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2024
