Afar Regional State Boosts Agri Irrigation

Jan 1 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

Agricultural productivity through irrigation is boosted in the Afar Regional State as the federal government hands over 500 water pumps and 30 tractors. The Regional State President Awol Arba received the first round of farming technologies and tractors with Aisha Mohammed, Irrigation & Lowlands Minister. The support will play a critical role in the ongoing efforts to engage the Afar youth in the agriculture sector, said Aisha. The region can potentially develop more than 120,000hct of areas in the Middle Awash. Awol Arba said the support would greatly help increase productivity, especially in areas affected by water shortages and floods. “We are optimistic that the regional governments will use this technology to enhance productivity,” said Birhanu Megersa, state minister for Irrigation. To date, the Ministry has distributed about 4,000 water pumps to ten regions and the two city administrations supporting their winter irrigated wheat and vegetable production. Its officials have also supplied tractors to three regions to encourage agricultural mechanization. Despite its dependency on agriculture, which contributes to 40pc of the GDP, Ethiopia utilizes only five percent of its 21.8 million hct cropland that could be farmed through irrigation.


Radar

Milkii App Disburses 25 Million Br in Collateral-Free Loans in Two Months

Oromia Bank's new collateral-free digital lending app, Milkii, has disbursed 25 million Br in loans without requiring collateral. Of this, 16 million Br has already been repaid, generating 1.4 million Br in revenue within just two months. Developed in partnership with Quantum Technology PLC, the app plans to make lending more accessible and inclusive, aligning with Oromia Bank's contribution to the Digital Ethiopia initiative. According to a press release, Milkii promotes financial inclusi...


Radar

Ethiopia Partners with UK to Ease Shipping Bottlenecks

The Ethiopian Freight Forwarders & Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 27, 2025, at Hilton Hotel Addis Abeba, to address skills gaps, customs delays, and corridor inefficiencies in the freight and logistics sector. The partnership focuses on technical cooperation, training, and regulatory reform. With over 90pc of trade dependent on the Djibouti corridor, rising congestion, customs...


Radar

Education Authority Sanctions Mishqen College for Rule Violations

The Education & Training Authority has issued a decisive directive last week, mandating legal action against Mishqen College for persistently defying regulatory orders and unlawfully continuing to offer higher education services. Mishqen College had previously been licensed to conduct undergraduate distance learning programs across multiple regions from 2019 to 2022. However, after serious regulatory breaches, the institution was ordered to cease all instruction, complete pending academic...