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Fogera – Climate & small farmers

Strengthening small farmers, protecting the climate

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Project Information

  • Activities:
    – Desolate land is afforested with trees
    – Agricultural training for small holder farmers
    – Formation of self-helping groups for women
    – Provision of livestock on credit basis
    – Vocational training for young people
  • Target group: small holder farmers and their families
  • Region: Fogera District in the State of Amhara
  • Partner: Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA)
  • Duration:
    – 1. project phase 2020 – 2022
    – 2. project phase: 2023 – 2025
  • SDGs:
    Sustainable Development Goal no. 1 Sustainable Development Goal no. 2 Sustainable Development Goal no. 8 Sustainable Development Goal no. 10 Sustainable Development Goal no. 13

Project Description

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

We improve natural resources, for example through reforestation, and promote agriculture adapted to climate change. In this way we increase the resilience of particularly poor smallholder farming families. Unemployed young people and women are a particular focus. Vocational training and microcredits help them to earn an income.

 

MEASURES

  • Reforestation: We grow tree seedlings to stop soil erosion.
  • Agriculture: Training ensures that smallholders become more resilient in climate change conditions.
  • Microcredit: Menschen für Menschen gives smallholder farmers start-up capital in savings and self-help groups so they can become livestock farmers.
  • Business start-ups: Unemployed young people receive vocational training and seed capital to start their own businesses.

 

THE PROJECT

By 2022 we will have planted around one million trees, which we provided from the project’s own planting schools. In the new three-year project phase starting in 2023, we will grow another 1.2 million tree seedlings. Our reforestations offer many benefits. New forests bind climate-damaging CO2 – a contribution against global warming. Above all, however, the trees act as erosion protection and water storage. Their roots prevent the rapid surface run-off of precipitation and thus prevent further erosion of the topsoil. The groundwater reservoir is regenerated and feeds springs and streams all year round.

 

In addition to this indirect promotion of agriculture, we also offer direct aid to small farmers. We provide microcredits and access to improved seeds and productive livestock. We also impart new knowledge in agricultural training courses: How can the best possible yields be achieved on small farmland, with depleted soil and in times of climate change? For example, through the concept of “agroforestry”, which allows diversified harvests on small areas: Fruit shrubs grow under tall trees and vegetables are grown on the ground.

 

Landless young people cannot benefit from this. We organise vocational training and start-up capital to set up their own businesses, for example in the retail trade or in the processing of agricultural products. We also initiate and strengthen cooperative groups for mothers. The women receive education and microcredits together and can thus become small entrepreneurs.

 

Whether landscape protection, the spread of adapted agriculture or support for unemployed young people and women: The interlinked activities contribute to food security and a sufficient income for the rural population. In total, around 6,000 families with around 30,000 people will benefit from the measures in the new project phase from 2023.

The Problem

Many small farmers harvest far too little. Their families only have enough food for a few months of the year. From May to October they suffer from food shortages. The children are susceptible to diseases due to hunger. Their physical and mental development is left behind.

The backward agriculture is only one cause for the shortage. The deforestation of trees and woodland leads to the washing away of topsoil and to a reduction in the water supply for agriculture. The destruction of natural resources contributes to the fact that harvests remain small. Recently, farmers have also been affected by global climate change with erratic rainfall.

As there is a lack of crafts and industry, a particularly large number of young people are unemployed. As they do not own land, many know no other way out than to cut down trees and sell them as firewood – a major factor in the further desertification of the landscape. Other young people migrate to the cities. Without an education, however, they remain without prospects even there and only increase the number of day labourers who live in extreme poverty.

Women in the rural district are traditionally disadvantaged and burdened with a high workload. For example, they are responsible for procuring drinking water and firewood. Sustainable development is only possible if the women can develop socially and economically.

Project Information

  • Activities:
    – Desolate land is afforested with trees
    – Agricultural training for small holder farmers
    – Formation of self-helping groups for women
    – Provision of livestock on credit basis
    – Vocational training for young people
  • Target group: small holder farmers and their families
  • Region: Fogera District in the State of Amhara
  • Partner: Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA)
  • Duration:
    – 1. project phase 2020 – 2022
    – 2. project phase: 2023 – 2025
  • SDGs:
    Sustainable Development Goal no. 1 Sustainable Development Goal no. 2 Sustainable Development Goal no. 8 Sustainable Development Goal no. 10 Sustainable Development Goal no. 13

Project Status

Already planted:

1,000,000 trees

Project goal:

2,200,000 trees

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