MAJOR DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREAS

Ankober has a magnificent and beautiful mountainous landscape overlooking the Great Rift Valley with only 8% flat area. Unfortunately, the terrains are degraded and the soil has been washed away decreasing its productivity, despite the efforts in terracing and protecting the soil. Besides, serious shortage of land makes livelihood agonizing. Ankober has a population of 95 000 of whom 94% are farmers. A farmer owns only about 0.76 hectare of farmland per household, barely enough to sustain a family of five persons. The figures indicate that farmers produce and live on subsistence level. Thus, the need to support the development efforts of Ankober farmers to increase productivity and improve their living condition.

After intensive discussions with experts and development agents, the Board of AWDA decided to draw the attention of organizations and friends and Ankobereans to support PROJECTS promoting the following major development areas.

I. Intensive farming at households Level

1. Projects that increase productivity of farmlands

2. Off-farm income generating activities in order to easy pressure on land

3. Popularizing highland fruit trees, such as apple, plum, peaches, mango, avocado, etc.

4. Extensive vegetable growing at a household level

5. Improving sheep and cattle breed

6. Fattening activities

7. Bee-keeping

8. Poultry farming

9. Young people organized in crafts cooperatives

II. Projects that need support at village level

1. Water scheme, such as spring development

2. Provide equipment for apiculture

3. Rain water collection schemes

4. Irrigation schemes

5. Highland fruit trees nursery at the village level for distribution to farmers

6. Scheme helping elderly and the poor in the villages

7. Introducing silk cotton farm in lower qola areas

III. Projects that need support at At Kebele level

1. Improving quality of education and enabling children of the area to compete with other compatriots

2. Awarding and motivating able students for higher performance

3. Construction of internal roads

4. Protecting historical artifacts

5. Projects for unemployed youth

IV. Projects that need support at District/Woreda level

1. ICT Dissemination, computer training for young people

2. library development

3. Construction of more classrooms to increase high school participation

4. Developing apiary center for provision of equipments

5. Construction of health center at Tscheffa Kebele

6. promotion of arts and crafts at woreda level.

7. Athletics contest at woreda level.