Inaccessibility of value chain- a hindrance to uplift agricultural productivity!
By Esubalew Dires
Ethiopia, known as "water tower of Africa" is potentially rich for agricultural productivity. Nevertheless, the country suffered a lot in poverty as it didn’t fully utilize its resources for longer years. Nowadays, modern irrigation schemes and improved agricultural technologies assist farmers to boost their productivity. In this case, Amhara region is considered as one of the most potential areas of production.
Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), funded by Canadian Feed the Children (CHF) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), has been assisting areas of food insecure and drought occurring particularly in Dewa Chefa and Artima Fursi 10 selected kebeles. Market-Led Improved Livelihoods in Eastern Amhara (MILEAR) constructed farmers’ communal ponds, small irrigation schemes and supply of improved crop varieties. However, due to poor market chain, farmers have not been benefited from their productions. MILEAR project took the initiative of connecting farmers’ productions with a variety of marketers. Hence, ORDA conducted a consultative workshop with stakeholders in Bahir Dar, Homland Hotel on the 7th of June 2016.
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Ato Dawit Mengistu and his colleagues have been to Djibouti to survey market demands of fruits and vegetables of the country. While presenting, Ato Dawit stated two consumers groups competing for fruit and vegetable markets: as the high-class in one category the middle & low class in another. Fruits & vegetables supplied for the high class are sourced from different countries including China, France, Dubai, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, and Yemen. Whereas, Ethiopia supplies only 15,600 quintals of fruits & vegetables to the middle & lower class consumers for poor quality reasons.
Regional & Zonal cooperatives, ORDA, Canadian Feed the Children and other stakeholders’ heads and officers were actively engaged in the workshop. Eventually, stakeholders drafted long and short-term action plans which lead to begin exporting to the neighboring Djibouti.