A number of reformative development programs initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are in operation in Ethiopia. The main purpose of this contribution is to make an analytical preview of the necessary dialectical and operation link between the three programs and their implication for the industrial development and upscaling of foreign trade revenue for the country.
From the outset, it must be clear that the three projects are not standalone in terms of their output and contribution to the country’s socioeconomic development.
Ethiopia’s initiatives like YelematTrufat, the Green Legacy Initiative, and comprehensive food security strategies are integral components of the country’s sustainable development goals.
YelematTrufat also sometimes known as Basket Bounty is Ethiopia’s comprehensive plan to boost agricultural productivity and promote economic self-sufficiency. Key aspects include:
Modern Farming Techniques: Adoption of advanced agricultural methods to increase crop yields. use of high-yield and drought-resistant seeds to enhance food production, expansion of irrigation infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of erratic rainfall and droughts, encouraging value addition and market access for agricultural products to improve farmers’ incomes.
These measures aim to transform Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, making it more resilient and productive, thereby contributing to food security.
Launched in 2019 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Green Legacy Initiative aims to combat environmental degradation and promote sustainable development through planting billions of trees across the country to restore forests, improve soil fertility, and enhance water retention.
Rehabilitating degraded landscapes to improve biodiversity and ecological balance, enhancing the country’s capacity to withstand the adverse effects of climate change, such as droughts and floods.
By improving the environment, the Green Legacy Initiative supports sustainable agriculture, which is essential for long-term food security.
Food security in Ethiopia is a multifaceted issue addressed through various policies and programs aimed at ensuring that all citizens have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. Key strategies include: Investing in agricultural research, infrastructure, and extension services to boost food production, implementing programs to address malnutrition and promote healthy diets, especially among vulnerable populations, developing systems to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters on food production and distribution.
Both YelematTrufat and the Green Legacy Initiative contribute to environmental sustainability, which is crucial for reliable agricultural production. Healthy ecosystems support fertile soils, adequate water supply, and a stable climate, all of which are essential for food security. By improving agricultural productivity and promoting agribusiness, YelematTrufat enhances economic opportunities for rural populations. This, in turn, supports food security by increasing household incomes and reducing poverty. The Green Legacy Initiative’s focus on tree planting and ecosystem restoration helps build resilience against climate shocks, such as droughts and floods, ensuring more stable agricultural output and food availability.
The synergy between YelematTrufat, the Green Legacy Initiative, and food security policies highlights a holistic approach to sustainable development in Ethiopia. By addressing environmental, economic, and social dimensions, these initiatives collectively work towards achieving a food-secure and resilient nation.
The author wishes to take the analysis on the three development programs much further. YelematTrufat which encompasses, bee keeping, horticulture, meat production, poultry, and dairy products like milk has a greater bearing particularly in preventing various diseases related to nutritional deficiencies particularly among children, lactating mothers and the elderly. This means that the program renders greater contribution to the promotion of public health.
As stated above, the program on YelematTrufat promotes environmental protection and production of marketable agricultural products with better quality for local consumption and export. Besides, industries in the country can use the program as sources of inputs to produce quality value added products that can compete on global markets. The program will allow millions of youth to be self-employed and shape a better future forthemselves. One of the merits of this program emanates from the fact that it can be operated both at the household level and at communities.
Apart from the government, CSOs in the country can help in boosting this program by providing need based trainings both at rural settings and urban centers of the country YelematTrufat should also be organized in such a way that it could be supportive to the National Green Legacy Initiative as mentioned above.
On the other hand, the National Green Legacy conducted every year by planting billions of trees could be linked up to YelematTrufat campaign by developing food forests in the form of planning fruit trees with multi-purpose objectives. In addition, retention of moisture in the soil, protecting huge expanse of land from all types of erosion will help to markedly reduce loss of top soil lost every year through recurrent runoff caused by rains across the country.
The Green Legacy Initiative in Ethiopia, launched in 2019, aims to combat environmental degradation and promote sustainable development by planting billions of trees. This initiative provides several significant economic benefits for the country:
Tree planting helps restore and maintain soil fertility by preventing soil erosion, enhancing organic matter content, and improving water retention. This leads to increased agricultural yields and food security.
Trees contribute to stabilizing local climates and protecting crops from extreme weather conditions. This results in more reliable agricultural output and reduces the risk of crop failures.
The initiative generates employment opportunities for millions of Ethiopians involved in tree planting and maintenance activities.
Improved environmental conditions foster the growth of agribusinesses and value-added agricultural activities, creating further employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Trees play a crucial role in watershed management by regulating water cycles, reducing runoff, and promoting groundwater recharge. This ensures a more consistent water supply for agricultural, industrial, and domestic use.
Improved water availability supports irrigation projects, which are vital for increasing agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions.
Reforestation efforts enhance biodiversity and create attractive natural landscapes, which can boost ecotourism. This provides economic benefits through increased tourism revenue and the development of related services such as hospitality and guided tours.
The creation and expansion of protected areas for conservation can draw international tourists, contributing to foreign exchange earnings and local economic development.
By sequestering carbon dioxide, reforestation projects can generate carbon credits that Ethiopia can trade in international carbon markets, providing a new source of revenue. Participation in global climate initiatives can attract international funding and investment aimed at supporting sustainable environmental practices.
Reforested areas can sustainably provide raw materials such as timber, bamboo, and other forest products. These materials can support local industries, reduce import dependence, and promote export-oriented production.
Biomass from forests can be used as a renewable energy source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting energy security.
The Green Legacy Initiative not only addresses environmental challenges but also provides a wide range of economic benefits, from job creation and improved agricultural productivity to enhanced water resources, ecotourism, and participation in global carbon markets. These benefits contribute to sustainable economic growth and development in Ethiopia.
Both YelematTrufat program, Green Legacy Initiative and food security programs serve as a transition belt to the development of climate resilient agro-industrial development in Ethiopia.
Agro-industries in Ethiopia have been steadily developing, driven by the country’s rich agricultural resources and strategic government initiatives. Here’s an overview of the key aspects and developments in the agro-industry sector in Ethiopia:
Ethiopia is endowed with diverse agro-ecological zones suitable for growing a variety of crops, including coffee, grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables. The country is one of the largest producers of coffee and sesame seeds globally, which form the backbone of its agro-industrial sector. The Ethiopian government has implemented various policies and strategies to boost agro-industrial development. These include the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) and the Agricultural Growth Program (AGP).
The government has established agro-industrial parks to facilitate the processing and value addition of agricultural products.
Several Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (IAIPs) have been established in Ethiopia to promote the agro-processing sector. These parks provide infrastructure, support services, and facilities to enhance productivity.
Notable IAIPs include those in Bure, Yirgalem, Bulbula, and Baeker, which focus on processing crops like fruits, vegetables, cereals, and livestock products.The agro-industry sector has attracted significant foreign investment, particularly in the areas of floriculture, horticulture, and large-scale farming. Foreign investors are involved in producing and exporting flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other high-value crops. Ethiopia is focused on adding value to its agricultural products through processing and packaging. This helps in increasing export revenues and creating employment opportunities.Agro-industrial activities include the processing of coffee, oilseeds, pulses, dairy products, meat, and leather goods.
Despite the progress, the agro-industry sector faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance, and occasional political instability.Other issues include logistical bottlenecks, low levels of technology adoption, and challenges in maintaining quality standards for export. Significant investments are being made in improving infrastructure, including roads, energy supply, and irrigation systems, which are crucial for the growth of agro-industries.
The government encourages public-private partnerships to develop the agro-industrial sector. This includes collaboration with international organizations and private companies to enhance agricultural productivity and processing capabilities.
Efforts are being made to modernize agriculture through the adoption of new technologies, including mechanization, improved seed varieties, and better farming practices.There has been a consistent increase in the export of processed agricultural products, contributing to foreign exchange earnings and economic growth.
Ethiopia is renowned for its high-quality coffee, which is a major export product. A significant export commodity used in the food industry. Ethiopia is a leading exporter of cut flowers, particularly roses. Increasing production and export of fresh and processed fruits and vegetable helps the country to generate more income from the sectors. Development of dairy processing plants and meat processing facilities are all yet to be fully exploited to reach to the level of quality exports.
The reader will therefore be able to see the importance of linkage between the above mentioned components of the Ethiopian economy.
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2024
