Shabait.com (Asmara)
15 August 2007
editorial
Asmara — Being free from dependence and working by the sweat of the brow has been one of the major characteristics of the Eritrean people, and as such it is not a new experience. Based on this long existing culture and experience the people and Government of Eritrea by remedying the paralyzed agricultural activities encountered due to recurrent drought and protracted war, have time and again toiled hard to boost agricultural output and are still working hard. And parallel to the tireless effort being exerted nature has unfolded its bounty endowment. In the current rainy season most of our country is getting ample rainfall. Consequently, most of the new water conserving infrastructure built in many corners of the country at huge government expense and selfless commitment of the defense forces as well as the civilian population have led to the accumulation of satisfactory water. And this in turn is serving as a springboard for an extensive swift change with regards to future agricultural task, which is also opening the door wide for still greater achievement.
Economic emancipation can assume diverse meaning and definition. However, its first and usual meaning is nothing but ensuring food security. Self-sufficiency in food as well as responding adequately to material and spiritual demands is not a mystery that only a few could understand. The mystery just owns a mind and intellect devoted to work. That is why philosophers say, "Poverty is the state of one's mind and is not being poor" Surely all those affluent and civilized people who have made poverty and backwardness history have done nothing special but chose to meet unsuitable climate and other natural challenges with unreserved determination. And through such different means and intellectual maturity, they have managed to tackle their problem. While those who try to flee from challenging situations and temporary problems are destined to suffer from famine, exodus and disintegration and are subject to such continuous unbearable state of life.
The people of Eritrea who are going through national reconstruction, having risen from the ashes of war of liberation take note of this truth and have never opted to continue in such manner, carrying such a problem on their back. Hence, without waiting for aid and other assistance from other quarters they chose to overcome such challenges saying, "Erratic rainfall as well as drought have to be surpassed through work and other agricultural innovation alternatives" And based on such strong determination equipped with the unrelenting work sprit have began installing novel infrastructure changing the traditional way of farming. This is also expected to bring about a swift and extensive change in the means of production, and this indicates a bright light at the end of the tunnel. And the current generous rainy season has brought about a visible support and significant drive in this regard.
Thus, this hopeful and encouraging atmosphere will further provide a driving impetus for the ever growing effort. In order to obtain ample outcome from all the rain-fed or irrigated lands all the agricultural care that need to be put in place (like weeding and pest control) need to be done on time. And the water collected by the infrastructure built in many places needs to be used economically and with skillful management. To realize this objective, the necessary preconditions have to be fulfilled. Most of all being free from myopic understanding, a rational land management should prevail so as to achieve maximum output from the cultivatable land. In such a favorable climatic atmosphere and wet season, a land that has secured major technological intervention that is administered scientifically, gets selected seeds and is well taken care of will undoubtedly give bountiful harvest. Hence, all the necessary task and preparations need to be conducted zealously. And such a promising rainy season is a horse that will carry one to the battlefield and is not by any means a fighter by itself. Thus we need to enhance our effort so as to judiciously exploit this existing opportunity!
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