Canada plans to spend $7.5 million over the next seven years to help Ethiopians grow more food.
The federal Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration will carry out the project in Eastern Tigray by providing personnel to teach employees of Ethiopian organizations similar to PFRA.
Money for the project is coming from the Canadian International Development Agency.
“The challenge is immense,” said Diane Marleau, minister of international co-operation.
The project will focus on water harvesting for food production, and training in the areas of irrigation, agriculture, soil and water management.
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“People, usually women, must walk great distances in this very dry part of Ethiopia just to collect water,” Marleau said.
“This project will provide a reliable source of water for drinking and for growing vegetables.”
Children are victims
She told a news conference that 69 percent of the children living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan areas of Africa suffer from stunted growth, and life expectancy is 49 years.
Gerry Wetterstrand of PFRA said the region of Tigray is much like neighboring Sudan, which has made headlines because of famine. Tigray was one of the hardest hit regions when famine in Ethiopia drew the world’s attention in the 1980s and still suffers from chronic food shortages.
Lost commodity
The area is subject to frequent drought and most of the nine billion cubic metres of annual rain runoff is lost.
“They’re dealing with a very degraded environment, much like PFRA was faced with when it was formed in the Thirties,” he said.
PFRA will send senior experts to Tigray for two to three months at a time to teach local staff. A Canadian team leader will be there full-time.
“Ethiopian people … are extremely dedicated and hard working,” Wetterstrand said. “I’ve never seen people anywhere near as dedicated … to getting food security.”
Marleau added Canada has learned that building dams isn’t enough. Local people have to have knowledge.
“We start with Tigray and hopefully these people will be able to transfer their knowledge,” she said.
PFRA and CIDA are developing another African project. It will also be a long-term plan to help people in Egypt manage water quality and availability along the Nile River.
