Farm Africa Ethiopia Signs 30 million Deal with Swedish Embassy

Jun 3 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

A three-year project to combat soil acidification and erosion through nature-based solutions was availed last week. It was spearheaded by Farm Africa Ethiopia with financial assistance from the Swedish Embassy. The Ambassador of Sweeden to Ethiopia, Hans Lundquist, signed the partnership agreement with the director of Farm Africa Ethiopia, Shewit Amanuel. The project is expected to be implemented across five regional states and 35 districts, where 87,400 households are expected to be beneficiaries. The Ministry of Agriculture revealed in its nine-month report in April that a whopping 43pc of the country's arable land is plagued by excessive acid content reducing fertiliser effectiveness. With the Ministry only managing to import 12pc of its planned 900,000qtl of limestone due to a budgetary squeeze, the impact of acidity on reducing agricultural productivity had been forewarned by experts. The agricultural sector contributes close to 40pc of the country's GDP while also employing two-thirds of the labour force. A combination of drought in Oromia Regional State, delayed delivery of fertilizer due to forex crunch and spurts conflict in several parts of the country have cast a precarious shadow over the next harvest season. Farm Africa was founded in 1985 by Sir Michael Wood, founder of AMREF Health Africa and David Campbell in response to the famine occurring in Ethiopia.


Radar

Coffee Hub Illu Ababor Targets Bigger Share in Global Market

Illu Ababor Zone supplied more than 51,000 tons of coffee to the central market in the 2024/25 fiscal year, Deputy Administrator Mohammed Teha reported. The effort is part of the "Neqemte Initiative," designed to promote production, productivity, and quality in top foreign exchange earner. The zone spans over 700,000 hectares, including 300,000 hectares of newly planted and rehabilitated coffee and 400,000 hectares of wild varieties, cementing its role as a major coffee hub. Officials highlig...


Radar

From Loan to Tap, Ministry Secures Water Infrastructure Funds

The Ministry of Water & Energy has signed a cooperation framework with China Exim Bank, facilitated by contractor CGCOC, securing a 100 million dollars loan. State Minister for Drinking Water & Sanitation Ambassador Asfaw Dingamo (PhD) said the funding will finance water supply and sanitation infrastructure in five cities: Holeta in Oromia, Areka in the South, Inseno and Tora in Central Ethiopia, and Mizan Aman in the South...


Radar

Bureau Rolls Out QR-Enabled IDs for Inspectors

The Addis Abeba Revenues Bureau has equipped inspectors with QR (quick response) code-integrated ID cards to curb fraud and improve transparency. Launched in Mercato, the system lets merchants verify inspectors' identities via smartphone, deterring impersonation and extortion. Bureau head Biniyam Mikiru said the move strengthens technology-backed oversight and shields compliant taxpayers. Inspectors will also wear new uniforms to distinguish them from impostors. Merchants praised the reform, say...