Jul 29 , 2023
A project that aims to address food insecurity by improving agricultural productivity in conflict-affected areas was launched by the Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) last week. The Food Security & Agriculture Rehabilitation Measures (FARM) project aims to rehabilitate the production of pulse, cereal apiculture, poultry and horticulture sectors while strengthening small-scale irrigation. The 32 million euro project is financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union (EU) and launched at Capital Hotel, Haile Gebresilassie Street. According to Remi Maréchaux, French Ambassador, post-conflict and crisis recovery is a sensitive period when humanitarian assistance is progressively diminishing and longer-term intervention needs to be started with the risk of an institutional vacuum in the transition phase. "The efforts by France and the EU started by supplying improved seeds to Amhara and Tigray ahead of the rainy season," he said. The deputy ambassador of the European Union, David Krivanek (PhD), said the project aims to improve food security and nutrition in the long term by providing access to drought-resistant seeds.