To plant 1.3 mln avocado seedlings
ADEA (EAST SHEWA)- In line with the national Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is effectively implementing the initiative to enhance the productivity of agricultural systems and climate ecosystem.
ATI staffs drawn from the headquarters and regional transformation centers undertaken yesterday tree plantation program in East Shewa Zone, Adea Woreda, Godino Jitu kebele under the theme: “A planting nation, sustaining generation”.
ATI CEO Mandefro Nigussie (PhD) stated that the institute is implementing the program through streamlined clusters in various parts of the country thereby bearing impactful outcomes on the farming livelihoods, climate change mitigation and the country’s agricultural transformation.
In addition to playing a huge role on economic, social and environment CEO emphasized that the institute is widely working on avocado as a strategic commodity under the green legacy initiative and providing sheds, necessary inputs and creating jobs to the youth in the area.
He said:”Through this initiative in the East Shewa zone, the country is exporting avocado products to European markets.”
He further remarked that the institute is also exerting utmost efforts to reverse dependency and ensure the multifaceted benefits of farmers by increasing productivity.
According to him, the plantation is being held with different forms of species selected for their source of food, fodder, and income generation for the nation. Besides, it reduces carbon emission and promotes carbon trade.
He said adding that GLI has national and international significances as it is laying foundations for the current and coming generation with regard to resilient ecosystem and economy.
Identifying economy-based seedlings, crops and fruits such as avocado, mango and banana, ATI is currently expanding productivity in various parts of the country, he added.
Apart from preserving the ecosystems in the area, he emphasized that the initiative helps communities exercise plantation as a culture for sustainable land management practices apart from creating green jobs.
“Out of the total plan to plant over 1.3 million seedlings in this summer plantation program, about 500,000 avocado saplings are so far planted.”
The institute is also providing trainings, inputs to the youth who are nurturing various saplings. The area is known for wheat, soya bean and avocado products among many others, it was learnt.
BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 20 JULY 2024
