2018 Annual Report on EOA-I in Ethiopia

(SDC/BvAT & SSNC)presented by

Ghebremedhin Belay, Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD)

The 8th Eastern Africa Regional Steering Committee (RSC) Meeting of the EOA-I in Africa 10Th April 2018

The SDC/BvAT

Support:Mainstreaming EOA into

national agricultural

production systems,

plans and policies

The SDC/BvAT Support PILLAR I: RTE

Outcome 1: Scientific, Indigenous Knowledge, Technologies and Innovations on Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Increased

Output 1.1: EOA technology and knowledge gaps identified➢ Two (2) integrated EOA demonstration sites established

➢ EOA research results from MSc students supported by the project

➢ Integrated research-training on enhancement of EO farming

Output 1.2: Capacity for organization and implementation of EOA practices developed and strengthened

➢ Three (3) institutions identified for training and support

➢ A manual on marketing networking developed

➢ Two (2) draft policy briefs to sensitize the role of EOA in livestock mgt. prepared

Output 1.3: Effective implementation of the pillar activities enhanced ➢ Preparation of five (5) EOA training manuals for extension under progress

➢ Five (5) teams working on different EOA themes established & functioning

The SDC/BvAT Support PILLAR II: IC

Outcome 2: Increased availability, accessibility and utilization of appropriate EOA technologies and innovations and enhanced documentation & sharing of knowledge and skills

Output 2.1 Increased awareness & knowledge of value & practice of EOA

✓ Two articles prepared and posted on websites The rise of organic agriculture in Ethiopia

A win for Push-Pull Technology (PPT)

✓ Two Brochures prepared and distributed The vegetable production using EOA principles

Natural ways to enhance soil fertility

✓ Two newsletters prepared; Spot message broadcasted; One hour radio program

Output 2.2 Strengthened extension support systems

✓ Assessment of 8 FTCs & Strengthened them with IC materials

Output 2.3 Effective implementation of the pillar activities enhanced

✓ Assessment of the FTC’s report was shared

✓ Participated and contributed to the progress evaluation and planning meetings (Three)

The SDC/BvAT Support Pillar III: VCMD

Outcome 3: A substantially increased share of organic quality

products at the local, national and regional markets is achieved

Output 3.1 Access to market inform. & data on EOA products increased

➢ A new edition manual on a market information system instrument for EOA Value

Chain developed

➢ 25 (5F) participants from key stakeholders trained as TOTs with the use of the new

manual & the trained teams prepared action plans for trainings & market research

➢ EOA producers supported to market their produce at Farmers Market day for 20 times

➢ Natani café, and another community gathering place nearby, have continuously

hosted the Farmer’s Market days for mainly for EOA vegetable and some others

➢ Farmers earned almost 50% higher in A.A than that at Holeta

➢ Consumer awareness conducted through different means: flyers, coupons, banners,

presentations (in meetings, workshops, conferences)

The SDC/BvAT Support- Pillar III - VCMD

Farmers market day in Addis Ababa at Natani Cafe

The SDC/BvAT SupportPillar III: VCMD …….. continued

Output 3.2 Capacity in value chains development for EOA products enhanced

➢ Current vegetable value chain & market analysis for Addis Ababa is underway.

➢ Farmer field guide manual for identifying beneficial insects and harmful insectson cool weather vegetable preparation is on progress.

Output 3.3 Enhanced capacity in quality assurance for supporting collective marketing of organic products to markets enhanced

➢ A total of 96 (33F) new target beneficiaries and agricultural development agents trained on participatory guarantee system (PGS) are getting engaged to start practice to sell their EOA produce at Addis Ababa farmer’s market day.

Output 3.4 Effective implementation of the pillar activities enhanced

➢ In collaboration with pillar one (Mekele University), study on the impacts of the adoption of Ecological organic agriculture practices on income and productivity enhancement, as part of M & E, is on progress.

The SDC/BvAT Support Pillar IV: Supporting & Cementing

Outcome 4: Fully functional multi-stake holder platforms at national, regional and continental levels

Output 4.1 Fully functional National Platforms with steering committees established and strengthened

Organize and conduct ordinary meeting of NSC➢ Review the progress of EOA – I PIPs ➢ Evaluate & Strength NSC

NSC met to select Pillar II PIP Co-organized and conducted the 1st Organic Agriculture Conference in Ethiopia Study on EOA dev’t Gap analysis & a way forward based on existing policies

ISD website reconstructed into international domain and systematically established in new page and pillar category

Output 4.2 Capacities of Country Lead Organizations (CLOs) and Pillar implementing partners (PIPs) to perform their functions strengthened➢ Prepare Annual Work Plan and Budget through Participatory Processes

➢ Monitoring and evaluation carried out by the PIPs in 3 consultative meetings

➢ ISD website reconstructed into international domain and systematically established in new page and pillar category

➢ Support participation in 4th African Organic Conference in Senegal

The SDC/BvAT Support Major Achievement:

MOA recognized & claimed the ownership of the work in organic sector in the 1st National OA Conference in Ethiopia

co-hosted by MOA & ISD.

Interest & recognition explicitly expressed by the State Minister

of MOA during opening speech & while chairing the final plenary discussion

Challenge:

Delay in the release of the funds

The court case of Ex-Pillar II implementer

The SSNC Support:

Resilience Principles to

Strengthen the Ecological

Organic Agriculture (EOA)

Initiative

The SSNC Support: Resilience Principles to Strengthen the Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative: Pillar I – RTE

Outcome 1.1: Widening the option of soil fertility through using organic inputs to enhance productivity and improving livelihood of smallholder farmers

Output 1.1: capacity building for farmers and experts to prepare, store and use effectively quality and quantity of compost, bio slurry and bio fertilizer

Improving Soil Fertility: Compost, Green Manure and/or Bio-Slurry

✓ In Amhara region, of the trained 158 (16 F) farmers on different soil fertility improvement approaches: → 28(18%F)of them prepared green manure;

→ 38(68%F) farmers prepared compost, bio slurry, …… & engaged in agro-forestry, intercropping and PPT;

✓ In Tigray, (i) 90% of 93 (3 F) farmers trained have realized benefits(ii) 88% of 72 (35F) farmers trained have prepared/used vermin compost

(iii) 74(6F) farmers trained on agro forestry dev’t with the use of organic fertilizer

The SSNC Support: Resilience Principles to Strengthen the

Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative: Pillar I – RTE

Outcome 1.2: Food production and security improved through promoting efficient water harvesting and improving irrigation in selected crops.

Output 1.2.1: Increasing productivity through capacity building on efficient use of irrigation.

Development of Small Scale Irrigation

✓ In South Wollo, → (i) All 175 (9 F) farmers’ trained, of them 50(0F) youth,and/or experience shared have better capacity on irrigation water uses for different types of crops (ii) 5 farmers have allocated some/portion of their farm plots from cereals to vegetables to use irrigation water efficiently.

The SSNC Support: Resilience Principles to Strengthen the Ecological

Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative: Pillar I – RTE

Outcome 1.3: Diversifying income streams of households particularly

of disadvantaged households, particularly women headed, through

diversified income generating activities

Output 1.3.1: Diversifying income through poultry

Development of Poultry Mgt.

In Tigray, All 60 women trained on poultry earned additional income

& better nutritious food availability from their own 720 chicken

→ 20 of them increased their chickens from 220 in to 491;

→One woman has sold her chickens & changed them into 2 sheepraising.

The SSNC Support: Pillar I – RTE …… continued

Output 1.3.2: Diversifying income through agroforestry system

Development of Fruits

In South Wollo, (i) all trained 111 (22 F) farmer’s on fruit production &

mgt. have implemented /improved practices.

In Tigray 5, the trained 157 (13 F) farmers have planted 2,350 different

fruit seedlings of which 97% have survived and are in progress.

Output 1.3.3 diversifying income of households through apiculture

Development of ApicultureIn South Wollo, 94% of the trained 54 (2F) farmers, of them have beekeeping dev’t

Particularly among 43 (2F) of them, 12 farmers made their own transition of bee-hives; 5 farmers turned-over their bee colony

from traditional to transitional beehive; 3 farmers split their bee-colonies & 7 farmers prepared their own bee-wax.

→ Created business for landless youth & poorer households

The SSNC Support:

Pillar I – RTE …… continued

Outcome 1.4: Productivity of selected crops increased through use of EOA practices to enhance the livelihood of farming families

Output 1.4.1: Production of vegetables and selected mainline crops improved using EOA production system and practicesIn South Wollo, (i) 95 % of 45(3F) trained farmers’ have started scaling up

organic vegetable production

(ii) All 93 (7F) farmers trained on planning, budgeting & recording

of farm plus marketing have started to practice these things.

Lessons learned→ Poor farmers & women headed HHs adopt better in diversifying cropping pattern

→ Model farmers are good instruments to scale-up and scale-out technology

Challenges → Shortages of organic vegetable for direct consumers or producers sell mix

organic and inorganic vegetables

→ Getting improved variety of Potato

Outcome 2. 1: Increasing awareness creation and knowledge on EOA for target groups trough dissemination and sharing of informationOutput 1.1: Awareness creation and knowledge on EOA for target groups trough dissemination and sharing of information increased

• Strengthening the capacity of 18 Farmer’s Training Centers (FTCs), 16,000 HHs, (30% women), are benefiting by getting better knowledge & skills on the values & practices of EOA

→ Consultative meetings with stakeholders → Provision of materials for Information centers

→ Training on ICT for FTC managers →M & E by visiting the FTC’ →Production of ISD newsletters; information materials on EOA → Experience sharing and visit of two FTCs

• Total reach via media (television, newspapers, Facebook page, event posts), communication and publications is 99,057 people

Lessons Learned

→The new established FTC at Gedera kebele use the megaphone as a mini media→ Some FTC managers have shown self-initiation to fill gaps of the FTCs;

Challeges: Some FTC are experiencing repeated power interruption

The SSNC Support- Pillar II – IC

OUTCOME 3.1: Income stream of disadvantaged households,

particularly women-headed, diversified through income generating

activities

Output: 3.1.1: Production of vegetables and fruits, etc. and selected

mainline crops improved using EOA production technologies , etc

• 16.05 ha area under EOA production system to produce largely

vegetables, small part for semi-hulled barley & very small part for fruitsSkills & knowledge improved:

→All trained 103(35F) farmers in EOA production;

→45(29F) farmers in compost preparation & use;

The SSNC Support- Pillar III: VCMD

The SSNC Support- Pillar III - VCMD

Output 3.1.2: Improving income of households, …….. through market

linkage of their produce

• EOA produce’s income increased. eg farmers in Holeta earns 50 percent

profit margin; 90 (34F) farmers in marketing; Market Days organized

• Consumer sensitization → communication materials to promote OA

→ Held consultative meetings with stakeholders

Lessons Learned→The EOA vegetable producers also produce larger amounts of herbs.

→ Vermi compost preparation & use is spread in Bekeka & Welemera Chokie→ Demand for quality & fresh EOA products increased

The SSNC support to Pillar IV: Networking & Partnerships

Objective: Equip young generation with culture, biodiversity and traditional knowledge so that they could use it in a combination with modern knowledge.

Outcome 4.1: Students and teachers from schools learn and document knowledge and practices from local rural community through conducting learning from the root program.

Output 4.1.1: Organize and conduct one-learning from the root program in selected village

A total of 62 (28 F) club members students and 18 (11F) teachers from 7 school’s environmental clubs, from Wenago town, have created great opportunity to share their indigenous knowledge, ….

Indigenous knowledge for social coherence, conflict resolution & conservation on environment increased.

The role of some plants, e.g Enset, in food security & cultural biodiversity (CB) learned

Knowing the cultures of each others created good relationship among the youth.

The SSNC support to Pillar IV: Networking & Partnerships

…… Continued

Figure: Cultural Day at Wenago

The SSNC support to Pillar IV: Networking & Partnerships

…… Continued

Outcome 4.2: Improved relationship among 7 schools, their local communities and key stakeholders through organizing experience sharing event Output 4.2.1: 35 Students and teacher from 7 schools participate and share experiences

“Back to root” program for students and teachers Provided time with rural community and with elders and learn through observation and working everything with the members of their host families.

Lessons Learned It has increased the contribution to the building of good citizenship

Challenges: Not enough time to learn more and detail knowledge & experience from the

elders

The SSNC Support Pillar V: Policy & Program Dev’t

Outcome 5.1: To establish of EOA platforms for experience sharing and

cross learning in EOA technologies

Output 5.1.1: Establishment of EOA platforms for experience sharing and cross

learning in EOA technologies at local, zonal and regional levels

Experience sharing and field visit on: →Desmodium seed production in Tehulledereworeda, South Wollo, by 19 stakeholders and 42 farmers

→ Bee farming and Biogas & Slurry in Ambasel woreda & in Tigray

Results (Output/Outcome) →Crop’s performance has been very good and crop yields increased→Bio-gas & slurry reduced deforestation and reduced workload of women &

children at home;

→Farmers, who shared experience in bio-gas and slurry, were able to construct

biogas and undertook minor maintenance service and earned additional incomes.

The SSNC Support Pillar V: Policy & Program Dev’t

………………… continued

Lessons Learned

EOA production is less risky in the face of climate change e.g

Habtamu’s , an EOA producer, zucchini plant re-survival after frost

declined; it continued to give production for a total of four months.

EOA through peer (Farmer-to-farmer) learning guarantees better

results.

Challenges

Fear of market price for desmodium seed in the future.

The SSNC Support- Pillar VI: Institutional Capacity Building

Outcome 6.1. feasibility and materialization of the targeted plans

Output 6.1.1 to enable the ISD program, admin & partner staffs for the

executions of activities they are responsible for assisting the

beneficiaries at the grassroots

It enhanced the institutional working capacity of the ISD and its PIPs:

Sponsoring educational support, short training, workshop, etc for the staff

Sufficient working capacity environment for ISD is maintained effective and efficient implementation of the activities.

Challenges

The budget allocated for Pillar VI is by far lower compared to the need for

the Administrative Cost/Expenses

The SDC/BvAT Support- Pillar III - VCMD

Farmers market day in Addis Ababa at Natani Cafe

Thank You!