By TesfaNews,
The gold rich state of Eritrea, through its Ministerial Cabinet, adopts the country’s integrated Agricultural Development Plan and its budget for the year 2013.
After assessing the accomplishments registered over the past 5 years to promote livestock and crop production, the cabinet discussed action plans focusing on soil and water conservation, raising the capacity of water reserve and laying additional irrigation farming infrastructure as well as mechanization of agricultural activities along with expanding research.
Reports from different UN agencies indicates that the country has shown tremendous progress in the agricultural sector for the last three years following investment worth hundreds of millions on modernizing the agricultural infrastructure and machinery.
Regional organisations and experts do agree that the complete success of this year’s National Agricultural Plan will give the final blow to the ever fading food insecurity in the country.
The Secretary-General of COMESA, Mr Sindiso Ngwenya, recently reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to support the Government of Eritrea’s plan in the agricultural sector through a program called the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
“As Eritrea prepares to sign the CAADP Compact [possibly in January 2013], the country should already start thinking about the content of the investment plan that will be developed after the compact is launched,” Mr Ngwenya said.
After reviewing the available data as regards the type and volume of food import and the expenditure incurred at national level, the Cabinet of Ministers again adopts an action plan on the realization of import substitutes relating to food consumption.
As in the success the country registered in the health sector, endeavors towards ensuring food security looks certain and will continue in an intensified manner both in an organizational and operational sense.
Impact of Modern Integrated Farming Described Significant in the Central Region
(Shabait, 5 January 2013) – The Administration of the Central region indicated that bountiful harvest was collected in 2012 through introduction of modern integrated farming techniques by the Agriculture Ministry’s branch and stake holders.
It made the remark at an assessment meeting during which it was stated that the attained level of harvest per hectare was 50 quintals, while the rate of harvest obtained through traditional mode of farming is 10 quintals per hectare.
Mr. Abraham Daniel, head of the Agriculture Ministry’s branch in the region, explained that the intensive farming approach involved the cultivation of wheat varieties for bread and pasta, besides hybrid select of maize. He further disclosed that more than 1.3 million tree seedlings were planted in a total of 390 hectares through popular participation of communities, associations, EDF members and the Summer Work Program.
Moreover, 2 micro-dams with a capacity of irrigating a total of 80 hectares have been constructed at an expenditure of 10 million Nakfa, in addition to the putting in place of drip irrigation infrastructure in 117 hectares and the preparation of more than 100,000 seedlings of temperate fruits.
In remarks he made at the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, said that the Ministry has been exerting commendable efforts regarding human resource development, thus making noticeable impact in national endeavors towards ensuring food security. Also speaking at the meeting, the regional Administrator, Mr. Kahsai Gebrehiwet, asserted that the integrated farming mode would be introduced extensively.
