John is the Executive Director of Partners in the Horn of Africa (http://www.partnersinthehorn.org), he is a driving force behind Partners, and their work in Ethiopia.
We asked John to tell us more about how Partners will deliver EBA’s GROW Ethiopia project, and he filled us in with the following details.
Ethiopia is about the size of Alberta but has a population of 85 million (Alberta’s population is ~3.5 million, while Canada’s is ~34 million). About 85% of the population lives in rural areas and one of the greatest problems it has to deal with is widespread soil erosion. Erosion came about in Ethiopia because of the need for wood for cooking purposes and today only 1% of the original forests are left. In other areas, erosion has caused massive loss of suitable farmland which has been rendered unproductive. Reforestation addresses this problem and is the only lasting remedial option. Fortunately, eucalyptus trees, introduced near the turn of the century, grow well in Ethiopia and the country has developed an expertise in reforestation.
Gojjam is the Ethiopian state surrounded by the Nile, and it has particularly bad erosion problems. Over the last several years, its population has become even more marginalized because of population growth and loss of arable land resulting from soil degradation.
Presently, villagers of Dinsir Metakir are unable to feed themselves from the land and are dependent on government "food for work" programs to keep their families alive. Young men leave the area for menial jobs selling lotteries in urban areas because the soil is so badly degraded.
Yehalem, [Partners’] Country Representative, has prepared a detailed work plan for EBA’s GROW Ethiopia project. Let me summarize the salient details:
- Over 2 years, EBA’s project will help to plant 66,667 seedlings in a 24 acre (10 hectare) piece of communal land. The project will hire 100 labourers who will receive 5 days training. They will then prepare the land (digging holes and preparing micro basins) for planting prior to the rainy season. Subsequently the villagers will weed the terrain and tend to the seedlings. Approximately one month of work for each villager will be generated. The villagers will receive a modest income for this work with deductions for each seedling that does not survive (if due to planting deficiencies).
- During the second year of the project, and based on an estimated 30% failure rate of the seedlings, there will be a second planting, to help ensure maximum production of trees.
- The work of the villagers and oversight of the project will be undertaken by the Regional Agricultural and Rural Development (RARD) office. RARD will also fence off the replanted area and guard it over a two year period, during which it will be off limit to the population and their animals.
- After two years, the replanted land will be handed over to a Forestry Committee formed by the villagers who will then act as the land’s guardians into the future. Wood from the communal forest may be used only, with approval of the Forestry Committee, for payment of guardian services or improving social services. RARD will report to Partners regularly over the next two years and the Country Representative in Ethiopia will visit the project several times each year.
- As with all Partners projects, the local community will have a stake in the project. In this case, RARD, at its own cost, will provide the seedlings and oversee the training and work of the villagers.
The Expected Outcome of the Project
EBA’s GROW Ethiopia project will help restore to productivity a significant piece of arable land, retain moisture in the soil, add an impressive number of trees to the community, improve forage resources, and facilitate beekeeping. EBA’s project will also provide a source of wood, which, with proper management, will support community construction projects for the foreseeable future.
All indications are that this project will change the lives of the people of Dinsir Metakir for the better.
Cheers,
John
This page was last updated on: 10/15/2009 9:49:00 AM
