Agriculture Livelihood and Conservation
ODA is implementing Agriculture, livelihood and conservation (ALC) initiative project entitled “Promoting and scaling up of climate smart agriculture” in South West Oromia, Ethiopia with financial and technical support of The David and Lucile Packard foundation.
Environmental conservation, Livelihood improvement and improving agricultural productivity are a pivotal center of this project. Through this initiative, ODA is implementing various natural resources conservation and livelihood improvement activities including afforestation and conservation of biodiversity, and promotion of appropriate technology to improve the agricultural productivity and livelihood of the community since October 2020.
The project is working with objective to improve the livelihood of SHFs focusing on women and youth through promoting and scaling up of climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices and techniques in the two woredas of Ilu Aba Bor Zone (Hurumu and Halu districts) of South West Oromia (five kebeles per district). The intervention districts are part and parcel of South West Oromia where the remaining forest exists and part of south Ethiopia biodiversity hot spot area i.e Yayo biodiversity, which is recognized and registered by UNISCO.
The proposed action is to bring about environmental friendly ways of life and livelihood practices in the environmentally degraded area in the intervention area. This can be realized by minimizing vulnerability of the community and households triggered by changing climatic condition and depletion of natural resources.
Therefore, ecological degradation as a result of resource overexploitation will be addressed through awareness creation and promotion of alternative livelihood practices as well as enforcing appropriate land use plan and rehabilitation of the degraded areas.
Major Accomplishments
One of the main activities done by the project is promoting the plantation and utilization of high value multipurpose crops. Improved varieties of avocado seedlings, Banana and papaya supplied to targeted beneficiaries for their economic and ecological values. Accordingly, 2300 avocado seedlings bought in the first year and over 15,600 improved avocado seedlings grafted in two model grafted avocado nurseries distributed for 1260(580F) households to improve agricultural production. Each household planted 10-15 improved avocado seedling (Hitinger, Hass, Nabal and Frute) varieties which are highly productive to improve household’s income as well as for its ecological value.
Similarly, two types of banana seedling variety (Butuza and Giant Cavendish) were bought from Ethiopian Research Institute Jimma Branch, Metu sub-center and supplied in collaboration with agricultural office of each woredas in 4 kebeles. The distribution is made by clustering of the kebele based on the appropriate agro-ecology identified by agricultural office. Accordingly, we have distributed 1000 banana seedlings with variety of (60% Butuza & 40% Giant Cavendish) for 100 hundred SHF (Female-39 and Male-61).
These farmers who planted the seedlings in the first year are distributing the improved banana seeds for other farmers. The improved banana seeds, papaya and grafted avocado seedlings planted by beneficiaries during the first year started giving harvest with better management. Apart from improving the household income these multipurpose seedlings have ecological values (minimizing soil erosion and maintain ecological balance) of the intervention area.
