ETHIOPIA: Farmers to increase productivity and income through the newly established irrigation project
Rt. Rev. Abraham Desta, Apostolic Vicar of Meki Officially Opens the Dam
Officially Opens the Dam
The Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission Coordinating Office of Meki (ECC SDCOM) in collaboration with Oxfam Intermon has established an irrigation scheme project worth 3 million Euros at Azezera Beredu Kebele of Arsi Zone that will support about 1200 families.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony Rt. Rev. Abraham Desta of the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki Ethiopia said that development is not something that is achieved with one process but it is an ongoing effort that needs the united effort of all parties involved.
He said that the Church in Ethiopia always strives to achieve integral human development through her pastoral and development works and also by creating networks among the beneficiaries and the donor agencies.
“They say Rome was not built in a day, so our effort for development does not stop here. Today we have inaugurated this irrigation scheme that will support about 1200 families using the water nature has provided to the community but the water has a potential to irrigate more land,” he said adding that “after the inauguration we must start thinking about the expansion work and reaching more beneficiary households.”
The project has the potential to irrigate about 450 hectares of land. Apart from irrigation the project also includes Women Saving and Credit Cooperative.
The community was depending on rain fed agriculture for living, but now with the irrigation system, the community would be able to harvest more than 3 times a year, significantly increasing the annual income of every beneficiary household as they now can produce adequate produce, enough for market beyond their own consumption.
For such a rural community, increased income would not only mean fewer burdens on women and children in a household but it would also allow children to attend school properly making them more successful citizens. This in turn contributes to the growth of the community and the development of the country.
Representative of the FDRE Charities and Societies Agency Mr. Thomas, on the occasion appreciated the work of the Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission in supporting the rural community and assured them of the agency’s continued collaboration in other development projects.
“Our agency is always pleased when we witness the funds received from donor agencies put to a good use for the developmental needs of the rural community, we commend the achievements of the Catholic Church in all her efforts for integral human development and we assure you our continued collaboration,” said Mr. Thomas.
By Makeda Yohannes, CBCE Communications and Public Relation Office, Ethiopia
