Improving Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods through Emergency Seed Provision in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is vulnerable to many natural hazards, and years of below-average rainfall, coupled with the 2015 El Niño-induced drought, resulted in deteriorating food security in 2016. In some regions crop losses, mainly cereals, were between 30 and 95 percent. Many households had to eat their seed reserves, leaving them without means of production in future seasons. This project – part of the largest emergency seed response in Ethiopia’s history – focused on providing seed aid to vulnerable smallholders: 13 875 households were helped, over a third more than the 10 223 initially targeted, to resume their agricultural livelihoods.
What did the project do
The project focused on emergency interventions, recovery and resilience building. Cereal, legume and vegetable seed, and, in some cases, tools such as rakes and hoes, were distributed to selected households in three regions: Amhara, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNP) and Tigray. The project offered technical support and training on improved crop production and productivity, to representatives of local and regional government in ‘training of trainer’ sessions, as well as directly to model farmers. FAO conducted regular field visits to monitor progress and offer support in row-planting and fertilizer and insecticide application.Impact
The main impact of the project was the improvement in food security and nutritional status of drought-affected vulnerable households. Emergency seed provision helped prevent sales of productive assets such as livestock, contributing to the longer-term livelihoods of the population. Vulnerable households headed by women, children and the elderly were given priority to benefit. Women also received the opportunity to participate in the training provided, and many reported that they have increased confidence in growing crops and obtaining a good yield. The training farmers received in improved agricultural practices will be utilized in their farming in years to come. Close collaboration between FAO Ethiopia and local leaders and village elders led to important buy-in from the community, further ensuring the project’s sustainability.Activities
- 13 875 beneficiary households received emergency seed provisions, with 18.6 percent (2 578) of households reached being female-headed.
- The households received a total of 2 371.5 quintals (a unit of weight equivalent to 100 kg) of cereal seed, 208 quintals of legume seed and 560 kg of vegetable seed.
- 1 152 hand tools (rakes and hoes) were purchased and distributed to selected beneficiary households.
Project symbol: TCP/ETH/3601
Project title: Emergency assistance for vulnerable smallholder households affected by El Niño-induced drought in Amhara, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) and Tigray Regions’ of Ethiopia
Contact: FAO Office in Ethiopia / Mathew Musumbale Abang (Lead Technical Officer)
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/I9941EN/i9941en.pdf