PROJECTS

Ankober Development Association

implements the following projects

(see also under WHAT IS NEWS?)

(updated on 01.05. 2009)

1. Information Communication Technology Dissemination Center (ICT DC) for Ankober youth since June 2008 in cooperation with Rotary Club Addis Ababa East and Rotary Club of Malta. The center has started training and services and would greatly contribute to introduce ICT to the technologically isolated area.

2. Herbal Development and Dermatological service in cooperation with Italian organization, Increasing People’s Opportunities (IPO) to implement a Herbal Development and Care Project involving:

· Dermatological check ups and medical examinations

· Research in the field of medicinal plants and the development of nurseries involving local farmers

· Construction of research laboratory for medicinal plants

3. Vegetable Growing in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture of Ankober woreda.

4. Promotion of Ankober Athlets in cooperation with the Department of Culture and sports of Ankober Woreda.

5. Promotion of Crafts and Arts also in cooperation with the Department of Culture and sports

6. PROMOTING HIGHLAND FRUIT TREES

Background

Ankober has fame and name as one of the ancient centers of Ethiopian kingdom. As early as the 13^th century Emperor Yukon Amlak made Ankober one of his sites while expanding his kingdom towards the south. Ever since Ethiopian rulers used Ankober as one of their bastions until the end of the 19^th century when they abandoned the area leaving behind deforested and degraded terrain. Today, Ankober is most backward compared to any other areas in Ethiopia. There is a need to rehabilitate productivity of the area in order to increase income and improve life of the peasants.

The Need in Promoting Highland Fruits

Severe deforestation of Ankober highland terrains have resulted in excessive soil erosion by torrential rains which made local people vulnerable to poor harvest.

Attempts to afforest Ankober highlands have failed partly due to resistance of farmers who argue that they need every bit of the terrain for cultivation and stock-breeding. There is a need to employ a new conservation strategy that motivates farmers to engage in rehabilitation of the terrain.

AWDA selected promotion of highland fruits as a viable approach that would benefit farmers with cash crop and at the same time engage them in plantation and protection of the fruit trees that will reduce degradation and contribute in improving the environment. Some farmers have already planted on experimental basis apple trees and the good news of the misrach or ‘first harvest’ has widely circulated among villagers so that a good number of farmers expressed interest to invest time and energy in planting and protecting the trees, if the seedlings are made available.

With systematic investment one can create “Highland fruit trees biosphere” in Ankober similar to the “Coffee biosphere” in the south and south west Ethiopia. The approach reconciles conservation with development by putting the immediate needs and interest of local communities at the center.

Availability of Water and Seedling

The major problem that has to be tackled is the availability of water and seedlings that are beyond the reach of any farmer. When it rains, there is plenty of water. However, due to the hilly terrain, water is not retained. Thus, the need to give attention to water harvesting.

There is wide range in-country experience with some trees like mango, avocado, wine grape, which could be made available with some effort and cost. However, plumbs, pear, peach and apple need much effort and expenses to obtain or raise the seedlings.

The Approach in Promoting Highland Fruit Trees

The highland fruit trees mentioned above, as experts say, have understandably many “enemies” and need much care as such cannot be planted at a distance where they do not get close attention. Besides, the trees need proper watering. The promotion of highland fruit trees has therefore to be combined with water harvesting, irrigation and spring improvement schemes that are being advanced in Ankober by a few NGOs, including Rotary Club Addis Ababa East.

The promotion of highland fruit trees will be done at two levels:

One nursery will be developed in Ankober where highland fruit seedlings will be raised for demonstration and training.
Farmers who can plant, protect and water carefully will be selected,trained and supported to replicate highland fruit tree seedlings and sell to neighboring farmers. With more farmers replicating and selling seedlings, mass distributions can be achieved.

The benefits are obvious. In about three years time, the road connecting Ankober to Addis-Djibouti highway will be completed. Ankober farmers can easily supply their products to local markets as well as to markets in the neighboring Arab states, which will increase their income and improving their livelihood.

Financial implications

Purchase of seedlings, transportation, development of a nursery in Ankober involve expenses for which AWDA has to raise funds locally and internationally. Apple seedlings are costly as the root stocks have to be imported and the seedlings take some three years to mature for planting.

This calls for a critical need to establish fund for promotion of highland fruit trees. We urge organizations and friends of Ankober to consider promoting this project with generous financial assistance.