Agricultural Programs Register Tangible Results in Promoting Food Security, Tackling Poverty

Addis Ababa, May 16/2024 (ENA)  The implementation of agricultural programs including ‘Yelemat Trufat’ movement in Ethiopia has registered tangible results in the efforts being carried out to reduce poverty by promoting food security, Chief Administrators of Regional States remarked. 

Chief Administrator of Oromia, Shemelis Abdissa and Chief Administrator of Sidama region Desta Ledamo remarked this in their briefings on the nine month performance evaluation of the Executive Committee of Prosperity Party held in Gorgora, Amhara Region. 

The Chief Administrators said the Executive Committee has conducted an extensive evaluation on tasks accomplished in ensuring reliable peace and sustainable development in Ethiopia.  

It  has also extensively evaluated the development activities, national reform efforts and political situations of the country in the presence of Party’s President Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. 

The premier said on the occasion that the government of Ethiopia, led by Prosperity Party, has sustained ongoing national development of the country by overcoming pressures.  

This encouraging achievement was realized due to the measures taken to adequately tap the existing potential with insightful strategies, he said, citing the results registered in agricultural productivity by making extensive efforts to improve supply of seeds, expand mechanized farming and instituting modern land management. 

He said crop harvested in the 2016 farming season has increased to 506 million quintal from 393 million quintal in 2015.  

The agricultural development efforts being implemented under the 'Ye Lemat Tirufat'  (Bounty of the Basket) and Green Legacy Initiatives have helped the agriculture sector grow by 6.2 percent, the premier added.   

Chief Administrator of Oromia, Shemelis Abdisa said in his briefing that agricultural development was one of the areas in which remarkable efforts were made by Prosperity Party in improving the livelihood of the people of Ethiopia. 

He noted that as the result of the implementation of the Homegrown Economic Development reform agenda, it was possible not only to reinvigorate the agriculture sector but was also instrumental in ensuring benefits for citizens.

He mentioned that Ethiopia was able to engage in transformation from being a major recipient of wheat to ensuring bumper harvest and the effective implementation of National Green Legacy Initiative to curtail drought and challenges of climate change, which also helped the country won a global recognition. 

Apart from engaging in producing quality wheat, rice and other agricultural products, the country was able to develop a capacity to export these agricultural commodities to foreign markets, he added.

By introducing reforms in access to credits and delivery of fertilizers and up-scaling the use of agricultural technologies and expanding mechanization in the agriculture sector it was possible to register growth in GDP and increase the export of agricultural commodities to foreign markets, he further added.

Chief Administrator of Sidama Regional State, Desta Ledamo  said that the government has effectively implemented the “Yelemat Trufat Program” for ensuring nutritional sovereignty of citizens.

He added that the program was instrumental in enabling farmers, pastoralists and urban dwellers to produce balanced and nutritious food at backyards by engaging in poultry, apiary and milk production.

“Yelemat Trufat” program has been instrumental in registering remarkable results in reducing poverty at household level and in improving the livelihood of the people.

  Chief Administrator Shemelis further mentioned that the government will continue to exert more efforts in increasing production and productivity in the agriculture sector by expanding mechanization and introducing new technologies as well as delivery of research based improved seeds and fertilizers.  

He added that the executive committee has evaluated that promising activities are underway to make Ethiopia a hub of global industries through the formation and expansion of special economic zones and free trade areas. 

Shemelis further added that the implementation of the National Home Grown Economic Reform has triggered the introduction of various policy reforms and has created a conducive environment in which foreign investors could expand their participation in the development of the national economy.