The project improved the livelihoods of farmers

Market-Led Improved livelihoods in Eastern Amhara Region (MILEAR) project handed over to sustain major achievements of the project to Oromia Special Zone Administration.

Oromia Special Zone administrator Ato Endris Abdu exclaimed ORDA’s Market-Led Improved livelihoods in Eastern Amhara Region (MILEAR) funded by Canadian Feed the Children, Global Affairs Canada and the Government of Amhara National Regional State with a total budget of 80 million Birr has significantly changed the livelihoods of farmers in the past five years.    

The project benefited more than 40,000 people in the 14 kebeles of Artuma Fursi and Dewa Chefa Woredas. The project disclosed that farmers and jobless youths in the area are now benefited from irrigation, fruit and vegetable production, and livestock rearing. Moreover, the project has shown magnificent achievements in areas of gender and nutrition.

 Dr. Amlaku Asres, ORDA's Executive Director explained that ORDA fruitfully accomplished   various developmental agendas in relation to forestry, potable water supply, hygiene and sanitation, irrigation schemes, delivery of improved crop varieties, fruits and vegetables, livestock and agricultural technologies which in turn assisted farmers to gain assets.  

The project has rehabilitated a total of 11 irrigation schemes, 88 ponds, 120 rope and washer pumps that irrigate 914 hectares of land benefiting 2,388 households. In addition, the project advanced crop productivity by distributing over 335 quintals of mung bean, teff, sorghum, rice and ground nuts to 3,730 households. It is noted that 3,400 kg of onion, tomato and cabbage is distributed for more than 1,760 farmers which enabled them to get a nutritious diet for children and women and earned money. Farmers also got a starter production from 54,000 improved fruit varieties (banana, orange, papaya, and avocado seedlings) distributed in the area.

Frequently migrat ing youths settled well in their villages and are highly benefited from irrigation production using the rehabilitated irrigation infrastructures/ SIS and ponds/.

W/ro Abebu Eshetie, who used to work as a daily laborer in farm fields and sell firewood for winning the families livelihood has a better life today. She came out from a rented house and built a home of a 50 corrugated iron sheet. W/ro Abebu has secured family’s food and started to save money in village-based saving and loan group. She exclaimed that thanks to ORDA & donors, the farmers in the area have owned irrigation pumping motor and a camel. This strong woman is exercising power that she serves as a secretary of the water user group.

Ato Gabriel Galatis and Mr. Dankan from Canadian Feed the Children (CFTC) & Global Affairs Canada (GAC) respectively, on their part expressed the project has a positive impact on the livelihoods of farmers, and they hoped to work with ORDA in relation to value chain in Ephratana Gidim and Jile Timuga woredas.