Stakeholders’ validation workshop on Best Practices, New Technologies in Pastoral Areas Conducted

Addis Ababa October 13/2023 (ENA) Addis Ababa University with its Stakeholders’ held validation workshop on Best Practices, Adoption of New Technologies and Systems in Pastoral and Agro-pastoral Areas. 

In an exclusive with ENA, Project Principal Investigator Meskerem Abi said various technologies and systems have been implemented in different parts of the country during the last 2 years through EU Reset Plus Innovation Fund projects.

Accordingly, the respective action research have been conducted with the view to finding out best practices on adoption of new technologies and systems for resilience building in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Ethiopia, particularly in the areas where the project was implemented.

She further explained that assessments were conducted to investigate innovative technologies and systems, whether they were effective and productive, can be practical, and the community’s interest to accept or adopt new technologies, among others.

The research results indicate that the innovative technologies and systems show promising results in improving the livelihoods of the community and the people are also interested in implementing the technologies in the future.

The principal investigator stated that digital technology for pastoral information systems was implemented in Borena, Oromia Region, by using a kind of mobile application that enables the pastoralists to easily locate suitable pasture and water for their livestock.

Also, the insurance scheme for livestock was introduced in Borana, which has enabled the community to survive when they faced drought by enabling them to establish resilient livelihood.

Furthermore, the research result indicates that 73 percent of the users are interested in adopting the technology, according to Dr Meskerem.

The other best practice that had been implemented was the provision of vaccines for goats and sheep in the Siti Zone of Somali region.

Besides, the vaccine was delivered by trained local women and this has enabled them to generate more income as well.

Similarly, innovative technologies and systems have been introduced in South Gonder Zone, Amhara Region, for resilient food production in drought affected areas.

In addition, compensation for ecosystem services scheme was implemented in West Gojam, Amhara Region, for protection of flooding and other environmental problems from upper watershed areas to lower watershed areas. The research found out that communities living in the two areas have accepted the innovative ideas. 

She recommended that such innovative technologies should be expanded to other areas of the region to enhance the resilience capacity of the community.