In The News: Dry Season Farm Technology In Ethiopia

DRY SEASON FARM TECHNOLOGY IN ETHIOPIA

Dry season farming is a farming system that takes place in areas with low amount of annual rainfall. The North American States such as Oklahoma and Utah have been using the system since 1890 to feed their peoples and the technology is not this much known in Ethiopia.

In a press conference held last Thursday at the Hilton Hotel, the successful result of the first dry season farming project in Ethiopia was publicized. As explained jointly by Village of Hope and Paul-Morrell Development, the first plan of their vision has succeeded.

Paul Morrell, owner and founder of Paul Morrell Development, has explained that crops cultivated during dry season farming have great importance. He further explained that the crops generate production semi annually and they are useful for food self reliance in case of climate change or drought due to various reasons.

Ato Aman Bulbula, general manager of Village of Hope, have reminded that the organization was established in 2006 by two philanthropist American couples and it was engaged in technology project useful to this country and the peoples in collaboration with Paul Morrell Development since the past year. Ato Aman further explained that the technology will take our country’s history of agriculture from its origin to another chapter and the piloting successful project in Shashemene will be expanded to the entire part of the country changing the history chapter of Ethiopia, he expressed his hope.

Improved seeds for dry season farming are imported from North America. The unique nature of these improved seeds is their capacity to be cultivated repeatedly for 4 – 5 times. Particularly, they penetrate their root to the ground, grow with the sucking of the internal moisture of the soil and produce. As they don’t need heavy rain, they can be produced in dry seasons not only during the rainy season.

The project’s farm manager Ato Abera Chala has said the following “for instance when a single seed of wheat or barely gets into the ground, mixed with the soil and grow, it will emerge only with a single stem”. Adding on his explanation, he said that after it grew with single stem, the number of seeds it will contain on top will be not greater than 20 or 30. Finally, he stated that one imported seed will grow 6 and more stems and each top part will have 6 rows and each rows contains 15 – 20 seeds which makes the total content of the top part 400 -500 seeds.

It was explained during the press conference that Village of Hope and Paul Morrell Development Initiative have jointly started dry season farming demonstration center in West Arsi Zone, Kersa Ilala Kebele on 9 hectare plot of land and achieved satisfactory result. It was also stated that barely, wheat, sunflower and chickpeas which were cultivated on this demonstration center during the dry season have generated remarkable production.

Mr. Morrell has stated that he will produce many crops in the future though dry season farming but the production will only be supplied to the local market which will have crucial role in the stabilization of market.

“THOSE WHO CONSIDERED ME AS INSANE FOREIGNER HAVE NOW CONFIRMED THE TRUTH”

Paul Morrell

Journalists, who were gather at the Meskel Square reached to Arsi Negele before noon without noticing the distance, thanks to the comfort and accommodation of sky bus. Saturday, January 31, 2009 was the day for the official launching ceremony of dry farming pilot project which was tried in Ethiopia for the first time. During the ceremony, the American Investor Paul Morrell said “I believe that today will be a history day for Ethiopia”. Continuing his speech, the project’s founder Paul Morrell said “One year ago, I met farmers in Kersa Ilala and told them about the possibility of producing during dry season. But, the farmers then considered me as insane foreigner and mocked at me”.

But, Paul Morrell was not discouraged by the reaction of the farmers. He reminded to have told the people of kersa IIala not to believe what he say because they will believe it when they see it and they should wait for him patiently. “Now, that reality is confirmed” he said.

The American continued his speech: “As of today, the land is ready to produce during dry season. There are lands, oxen and farmers. Above all, there are farmers who believe in it. After now, Ethiopia can use the dry farming technology which America has used for the past 100 years. The main issue concerns the seed. But, if a person checks the internet for 10 minutes, it is possible to find more than 12 seed producing companies. The price is not that much expensive. Though it is similar with the grain seed in the country, it is difficult to find easily because the transportation cost is very high”.

But, Paul Morrell has explained that he is committed to supply all seeds to all the farmers as much as possible. “History makes two things” said Morrell defined those two things as day and season. He then said “everybody should remember today because this day is the day on which history is made in Ethiopia. Today will be the final day to end famine once and for all. After 30 years, when you chat with your fat, highly healthy and nourished and dressed children please tell them about today. Like my children, your grandchildren will not be surprised by dry season farming. But, tell them that the idea was miracle which was not believed by anyone in Ethiopia and remind them of today on which revolution took place.”

The demonstration was undertaken on 8 hectare plot of land located in West Arsi Zone Kersa Ilala Farmers’ Association. During the visit, it was observed that the seeds imported from the North American State of Utah have grown in good condition and they are ready for harvesting. It was explained that the Barely, Wheat, Sunflower, Chickpea and Alfalfa Alfalfa forage have produced 5 times more than the local seeds.

Explaining on the case, the farm manager Ato Abera Chala started by saying “I couldn’t believe it when Paul Morrell came here to tell me that it is possible to produce during dry season”. Ato Abera, who did as according to the instruction of Mr. Morrell finally say “I am pleased to see that the production is successful” Ato Abera also requested the government to give due attention for the success of the effort started by Paul Morrell as the technology can eradicate poverty and famine from Ethiopia.

An official from the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has stated that dry farming technology is important with regard to the recurrent shortage of rain in Ethiopia. However, the official underlined that the seeds shall be distributed in consultation with regional and Federal level agriculture and research institutions. He also indicated that the pilot project shall not be limited in one location and the seeds shall be distributed to different parts of the country. The official from the ministry has explained that the government can not import the seeds unless they are tasted by agricultural research institutes and approved by the national variety approving committee. But, he promised that the ministry of agriculture and rural development will distribute the seeds after their release.

Founders of the project are Village of Hope and Paul Morrell Development. The concept of dry season farming is using crops that attract certain amount of moisture grow and produce in areas where shortage of rain is witnessed and it is possible to harvest production twice or three times per year.

“When we live in the Western part of USA, we have two season, dry and wet seasons” said Morrell. Elaborating on the subject, he said “the wet season is very cold and full of ice and the temperature can sometimes be below zero degree centigrade. Hence, as we are not blessed like Ethiopia, we are unable to produce green plants during the wet season because we can only produce during the dry season”. Morrell further explained that they used to produce during the past 100 years by the time the wet season ends and the dry season starts and he also said that farmers living in the Western part of North America produce not with the wet but sucking the moisture hidden in the ground.

Lon Kennard, director of Village of Hope who started the project with Paul Morrell foundation said “I and my wife adopted 6 Ethiopian children 15 years ago and two of them where originated from Kersa Ilala” he explained that he was very sad when he observed the level of poverty and living condition of the people and decided to help the entire area through out his life. He added that he has never thought of this day will come while he has stayed in the area for 15 years.

Lon Kennard stated that the major objective of Village of Hope is increasing family income. “When the income of families increase, they can help themselves” said Kennard. He further stated that such families will not expect assistance from the government or from other bodies. According to his statement, he decided to start the project with Paul Morrell foundation because of its great importance as source of income for families.

Technical director of the project, Evan Maxfield stated that he came from Western part of America and he has served as improved seed specialist for the farm of his family as well as with in various seed supplying companies. “Though most part of our locality is dry, we gather large amount of crop production” said Maxfield.

Maxfield further explained that when he heard the story from Paul Morrell, he was able to understand that Ethiopia can produce during the dry season like that of America and his internal feeling at the time was that these peoples are not good workers. As a result, he explained to have exempted efforts to create better condition in different fields and the result can now clearly be observed. One of the crops visited during the dry farming project demonstration is chickpea production. As it is known, chickpea is a dry season crop cultivated in the month of October and harvested in January. In response to the requested made by Ethio-Channel as to the difference, the farm manager Ato Abera has said the following: “the area didn’t produce chickpea before and the residents don’t know that chickpea can be produced during the dry season. In the absence of rain or if it is not rainy season, the community used to purchase chickpea as well as other grains from market”. He finally stated that the residents have come to know about the possibility of producing chickpea in dry season through the project.

As observed during the visit, there is no doubt that the crops have grown up successfully and they are ready for harvesting. Reporter of Ethio-channel who was on the site raised the following question to Paul Morrell: “as it is known, there was untimely rain during the current year in the months of October and November. The rain still continues until now erratically. Hence, don’t you think that the untimely rain has contributed for the growth of this farm?” Morrell answered this question with smile “as you said, the rain will have impact. Others who have also cultivated during the dry season can also harvest production like I did. But, no body will produce equally with me in the next years”.

Observers who were visiting the site have suggested that the local seed and the improved seed imported from North America shall be grown in parallel and put into comparison. Paul Morrell and his associates stated that the local barely and wheat seeds produce 20 – 30 seeds from a single seed while their improved seeds can produce up to 500 seeds.

Translator’s Note: the above report was excerpted from the weekly Ethio-Channel Newspaper published on January 25, 2009.