3 January 2008
Addis Abeba — There is great expectations that the country will be able to produce far better than previous years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference in his office, State Minister Dr. Abera Deressa said this year's harvest will register a 30-40 per-cent increment.
The state Minister cited a number of indicators that justify the positive expectations.
Dr. Abera said the prevalence of adequate and even distribution of rainfall and application of inputs well are the main indicators for the rise in agricultural production.
He said the government has been striving to ensure access for farmers to basic education, health care, water supply, and agriculture extension services including infrastructural facilities such as road, telephone, electricity, thereby encouraging enhanced production.
The state minister said the general income levels of farmers had increased significantly, though improved farming and enhanced productivity.
Infrastructure had improved. Access to basic education, health care, water supply, and agriculture extension services had expanded hugely.
Dr. Abera said the export of cash crops saw an increase in 11 per-cent allowing the country to obtain 787.9 million USD last year.
Dr. Abera further said the increase in agricultural production would help enhance the export capacity of the country.
In related news, Farmers Day will be marked on 14 January 2008 nationally in Hawssa, the capital of the Southern Nations and Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Tuesday.
Last year's day was marked in Bahir-Dar of the Amhara Regional state.
Speaking to reporters at his office, Tarekegn Tsegaye, Information and Public Relation bureau Head with the Ministry said all was ready to mark the event.
He said over 525 'development heroes' selected from farmers and sub-farmers, their trainers, investors, organizations, institutions, kebeles and Woreda administrations will be awarded in a ceremony to be held on the day.
Ability to achieve self sufficiency in food security in the face natural disasters including drought and other calamities was used as basis for the selection, Tarekegn said.
The day is being celebrated in Ethiopia for the second time at the national level.
"Some of the awardees have acquired wealth in millions and many have a hundred thousands in terms of cash and asset," Tarekegn noted.
Tarekegn said farmers were behind the remarkable growth Ethiopia registered over the last five years.
He said however that a lot remains to be done in the future.
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