Working hands won’t get hungry!

By Esubalew Dires

"Real modern poultry" was a legally registered cooperative established in Tehuledere district Hara kebele by the help of Harvest plus project. The cooperative comprises 13 youths (1 female) who have withdrawn and completed their high school education. Though it is a recently established (September 2014) poultry farm, they become successful and started to count cash. In the first round, the project bought 1018 chickens including their feed at Kombolcha poultry farm center. Youths at Hara kebele are supported to look after those chickens for 45 days and deliver them to the market. Among 1018 chickens 150 were dead. Each chicken was bought in 25 birr and the cooperative sell them out in 45 birr. Secretary of the cooperative, Seid Yesuf exclaimed that they gained 13 thousand birr net profit in round one. Currently, they are raising more than 2,200 chickens for meat and egg of which 220 dead. They sold those 1980 chickens and earned 89,100 birr. The creation of such jobs helped them wisely use their time, energy and money. Some years later, they planned to transform it into a big farm. You can imagine how the project is playing a crucial role in changing the livelihood of jobless youths. 

Fattening at Sedeni

 The then Ethiopian defense force members “Tsenat cattle fattening cooperative” which comprises 7 men and a woman in Ambasel district at Robit kebele was established by the initiation of Ambasel district since 2013. However, the cooperative was idle. After the intervention of Harvest Plus, youths started to carry out income generation activities. They are supported to be engaged in livestock rearing and production of fruits and vegetables. In the first phase, office of agriculture at the district constructed a house and the project supported youths for 10 oxen, forage and 45 corrugated iron for building a house; however, after fattening their market price were diminished. In this case, they didn’t earn enough profit. Then, they changed from cattle to sheep fattening and breeding.  Among 72 sheep 16 are for rearing (6 has born). They sold 12 sheep for 2014 Easter and earned over 12,000 birr which is over 500 birr net profit from each. Currently, they rear 40 sheep. This cooperative is distinct that they rehabilitated 3.75 hectares of land taken from the district three years ago.They have started harvesting fruits, vegetables (mango, papaya, orange, avocado, tomato, cabbage, pepper, cassava, mung bean) and animal forage (elephant grass, sesbania sesban, cow pea) in two hectares of their land.

Commander of ten & Chairman of the cooperative Muhammed Zeleke stated they earned over 12 thousand birr from vegetables and fruits sales. They saved 29,200 birr in their bank account at Amhara Credit & Saving Institution (ACSI).

 Apiary and its move at Yisma Nigus …

 “Yisma Nigus apiary cooperative” was established in 2007 at Ambasel district which encompasses 35 youths (22 male and 13 female). The cooperative was first established by the office of agriculture and the cooperatives. However, members were on the way to get out of the cooperative as wax moth was exacerbated in the area causing death for many bee colonies. Thus, they said “intervention of ORDA saved us from disintegration.” Harvest plus started its support by studying the possible causes of colonies death. Researchers at Holeta agricultural research center ensured the existence of wax moth and recommended their professional expertise through ORDA facilitation. ORDA, then, offered them training on apiary development. The target of the training was to ensure them generate income from colony bee splitting and wax production. The project also supported them 60 modern and transitional bee hives and other equipments. They got 3.5 hectares of land from the district and Harvest plus is going to rent them 400 bee hives in order to produce 400 hives more from it. Members have produced 150 hives and sold them out and earned 19,500 birr net profit. 11 quintal of wax to their consumption and market too. They also produced 300 hives for the district earning 130 birr from each benefiting around 39,000 birr.  Chairman of the cooperative farmer Mekonen told me a kilo of wax costs 300 birr and a kilo of honey 120 birr. The cooperative produced 114 kilogram of white and red types of honey and earned over 13,000 birr. This cooperative has planned to strengthen the apiary development through production of the number of hives more than a thousand, quality wax for international market and engaged in colony splitting.

 How many  alternatives to livelihood changes?

 "Lamie Bora dairy farming cooperative" was set up in 2014 at the capital of Ambasel Wuchalie 01 kebele that includes 6 male and 4 female youths who are graduates of college and high school. ORDA gave them 3 Holstein Friesian dairy cows and forage. Office of agriculture and technical, vocational and enterprises built 84 corrugated iron homes for shelter/ranch/, forage store and bureau. The cooperative produces 24 liters of milk daily since September 2014.  We met secretary of the cooperative Andualem Tadese looking after cows. They sell a liter of milk for 12 birr and a quintal of cow dung fuel for 40 birr. 

They produce 20 quintals of cow dung fuel monthly which is important for climate resilience. Highly productive dairy cow biomass of feed and nutrition requirement is higher than the local breed. They require much feed, water and healthcare. Members are highly encouraged that they are looking for credit from ACSI to maximize the number of cows from 3 to 5 in order to milk from 50 to 70 liters. . These youths have saved 15 thousand birr at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. They have planned to plant milk processing and other equipments in a mid-term. Generally, the initiation of youths is delighting but serious follow up of animals’ health and sanitation should be given due attention by the office of agriculture. The death of young calves is regretting. Stakeholders should put their fingerprints to improve youths’ livelihood.

 Say “No” to migration/human trafficking…

Youths at Dewa Chefa Bedeno kebele are engaged in job creation by Harvest plus project. First, "Bedeno youths bread bakery cooperative" was established by 15 youths (5 female) but now only 5 youths (1 female). ORDA has given members training on bread baking. Then, a 35 corrugated iron bread baking and selling home has been built. The project also supported them bakery machine, 11 quintal flour, oil and sugar. Four members of the cooperative were straggling life in Saudi Arabia. Now, they have job and don’t need travelling abroad. They bake 144 bread daily but they sell half of it only due to inaccessibility of market in the area. They have started saving 7,000 birr. Youth Rabia Endris explained they are envisioned to change it to electrical machine. In order to sustainably change the lives of youths and insist others in the area to get them engaged in job, stakeholders’ partaking is worthwhile.