Performance Review Meeting on Agriculture Held
Agricultural Transformation in Oromia (ATO) Eastern Cluster annual meeting was held on May 24, 2023 at Haramaya University Resource Center.
The East Oromia Agricultural Transformation Cluster discussed on the implementation of last year’s plan and the 2015/16 plan.
It is said that the plan issued at the regional level should take into account the actual situation of each area.
Haramaya University Research Vice President, Dr. Tesefeye Lemma, said in his opening speech that it has been three years since the University started implementing the agricultural transformation by creating strong relationships with the universities, agricultural research institutes, and agricultural offices at all levels and non-governmental development organizations in the Eastern Oromia Agricultural Transformation Cluster.
Dr. Tesfaye added that by working together, the University is actually seeing the results of its work. In cooperation with the zonal and district agriculture offices, especially in Meta, Kunbi, Meyu Mulike, Gole Oda, Babile and Gursum districts Haramaya University organized farmers in clusters for quality seeds production.
This year Haramaya University has provided improve agricultural technologies and capacity building trainings including follow up support and monitoring in the process. Many farmers have been able to produce the best seeds and wheat for food on 1000 hectares of land.
Dr. Tesfaye stated that Haramaya University is in the process of launching the initiative of ‘Ye Lemat Turufat’ (የሌማት ትሩፋት) which includes technology-supported and knowledge-led six projects in milk, cattle fattening, poultry breeding and animal feed were identified by the initiative.
Haramaya University, as a national center of excellence in agriculture, is making preparation to provide knowledge- and research-based support to the initiative in eastern Ethiopia focusing on poultry, apiculture, fattening, dairy, and animal feed as crosscutting issues, it was indicated.
The Oromia Agriculture Transformation Plan prepared in the Oromia Regional State was presented by the coordinator, Dr. Samuel Tufa, and discussion held. During the discussion participants suggested that the plans issued at the regional level should be considered and planned according to the actual situation of the zonal or local areas.
East and West Hararghe Agriculture offices presented a report on the implementation of the nine-month plan and discussion was made on it.
On the discussion session, participants suggested that since the initiative is flexible, the priority issues should be identified according to the local context; and the East Oromia Agricultural Transformation Cluster should come up with its own plan. For example, sorghum, corn, and fish farming are jobs that can change the lives of farmers in East and West Hararge Zone, so they should be given attention and extensive work should be done, they stressed.
West Hararghe Zone Administrator, Mrs. Ikram Taha, in her speech indicated that the transformation plan was released by the Oromia Region for 2023/24, and East Oromia Agricultural Transformation cluster should identify those priorities to the area and draft their own plans in a short period of time.
Representatives of eastern and western Hararghe administrations, agricultural offices, Fadis and Mechara agricultural research centers, Oda bultum and Haramaya universities, representatives of non-governmental institutions working in the field were participated in the meeting.
By: Shemsedin Mohammed
Photographer: Tewdros Lishan
HU PIRD