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| Farmers in their fields in Hiyana irrigation scheme in Enderta, Tigray. ©IFAD |
Until now, farming has not been an obvious choice for
Ethiopia's youth. Barriers to owning land and other assets have fuelled
the steady migration of young people to urban centres. Now, however,
the IFAD-supported Participatory Small Scale Irrigation Development
Programme (PASIDP) in the northern region of Tigray is providing a
viable alternative by offering some young people new opportunities,
including pursuing their own farming businesses.
Thanks to a government land-registration initiative targeting the
landless, most of the communities within PASIDP's target areas have
benefitted. For instance, 88 households in the programme's 44-hectare
irrigation scheme in Hiyana, Enderta Woreda district, are farming their
own land for the first time. Among these beneficiaries, young people and
14 households headed by women have been allocated communal land.
Increased harvests and income
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| Abrehan Girmay shows the onions he grown in his 0.5 hectare irrigated farm in Hiyana, Tigray. ©IFAD |
"I am able to provide for my family and send my two children to school
with income from the farm," explains Abrehan Girmaye, a young farmer who
received a 0.5 hectare plot through the scheme. "We are able to barter
some of our vegetables for maize with other farmers, and if I need
additional money to get by, I work as a paid labourer on surrounding
farms. I do not have to worry if I am going to find work for the day as I
used to when I was a construction worker."
Previously, Abrehan was a mason, taking whatever construction work he
could find in Mekele, the closest city, 30 km away. He earned the
equivalent of US$0.35 an hour and was not guaranteed a full day's work.
He and his family struggled to make ends meet.
Since then, his earnings have increased almost fourfold owing to
increased harvests, and he is expecting to sell more this season. And
Abrehan is far from alone. His community has been able to increase the
total amount of irrigated farmland from 15 to 35 hectares, which were
allocated through the land-registration system.
PASIDP has provided seedlings and extension support to assist farmers
in growing new crops and introducing special high-yield varieties. If
farmers need extra hands at harvest, they simply hire paid labourers.
Another positive spin-off from the project has been its impact on
women's decision-making. The registration scheme ensures that land is
jointly owned. Now, wives get an equal say in running farming businesses
with their husbands, including what to plant and where to market their
harvest.
Using irrigation technologies
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| Sashituu Sisay Zeleka in Golina Irrigation scheme in Kobo, Amhara. ©IFAD |
The benefits of the land-registration and reallocation scheme, along
with the adoption of irrigation technologies, have also had an effect on
young people in other project areas. Further south in the Golina
irrigation area, located in Kobo, Amhara Region, Sashituu Sisay Zeleka
describes how irrigation technologies have transformed her farming
activities:
"Growing sorghum, I could only harvest twice a
year according to the rainy season, generating 150 kg of teff [a
wheat-like grain] and 450 kg of sorghum," she recalls. "I kept the
majority of my harvest for household consumption and sold around 25 per
cent in the market. As my husband works as a soldier and is away from
home, I was forced to rely on my extended family for support to take
care of my son."
But now Sashituu's situation has changed. "I am able to irrigate my farm, I am able to harvest three times a year," she says.
Sashituu, in her early twenties, owns two 0.25-hectare plots and has
successfully increased her yields to the point where she has been able
to put aside the equivalent of up to US$10 every three months from her
income. She can purchase better-quality seed and fertilizer, which she
uses on one of her plots. In addition to teff and sorghum, she started
to grow onions on her second plot and, within a year, was able to borrow
money to buy two ploughs and oxen.
"I would like now to pay
serious attention to my farm, as my farm is my business. I want to
solely pursue farming, and I would like to start working independently,"
says Sashituu. "Farming is about timing, and if I work efficiently and
can be the first to harvest, I can make a better profit."
Sashituu hopes to continue saving so that she can buy an oxcart to
transport her produce to market. Currently she uses a kobo – a
traditional form of public transport – which eats into her profits.
Rising stars in youth leadership
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| Amina Ismael shows the cost of construction of the 86 hectare irrigation scheme in Betho Kebele, Oromiya. ©IFAD |
In
another project area still further south, which covers 86 hectares
within the Oromo Special Administrative Area in Oromiya Region, Amina
Ismael, a kindergarten teacher, was elected secretary of the Water
Users' Association (WUA) committee in Betho Kebele.
Amina's election is a remarkable achievement for a young woman in her
community. WUAs – which manage irrigation schemes and determine water
distribution – are traditionally run by elders.
One of the features of PASIDP was the introduction of a set of general
criteria that participants agreed upon to elect new WUA committee
members. Candidates must be model farmers, literate and community
leaders. In Betho Kebele, this created the opportunity for young people
and women, including Amina, to seek positions of leadership in the WUA.
According
to the WUA's chairperson, Mohamed Ali, it was due to her authoritative
position as a mentor and advocate for children's education that Amina
was selected. In fact, as the only literate member on the WUA committee,
she is able to keep track of finances and effectively record meeting
minutes, as well as formally communicate in writing if required.
Amina was also chosen to help engage women in the association's
activities, according to the chairperson. "Sometimes women don't
participate in the WUA activities because they are occupied doing
household tasks. She is energetic and is able to convince and mobilize
women to attend meetings and contribute to construction activities for
the irrigation scheme," he says.
The members
of the WUA committee highlight the fact that women have subsequently
become more active in the association and are beginning to raise
questions about the development activities they will undertake.
In this way, PASIDP has set young people like Amina, Abrehan and
Sashituu on the path to harnessing their potential and providing good
examples of what can be achieved by investing in opportunities for rural
young people.
Source: http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/voice/tags/ethiopia/ethiopia_youth
