Latest News from Ethiopia

This page is now used for archived news stories.

For the most up-to-the-minute news stories at the Sunarma Ethiopia Blog.

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October 3rd 2009: Production of new seedlings underway at Keyit demonstration nursery

Keyit demonstration nursery is normally known for producing highland fruit, exotic and indigenous tree seedlings. As the farmers’ needs for other inputs are emerging, two-hundred cuttings of elephant grass and 4950 tillers of vetiver grass have been planted at the nursery as part of the program activity of bulking-up fodder grasses.

The Wof Washa project area farming community will be using the grasses primarily for animal feed and secondary for biological soil and water conservation purposes.

 

Community members will be trained on site selection, planting, transplanting, further propagating and managing of these grass species by project technical staff. To make this program sustainable, these grass species will be propagated and produced in the communities’ group and private nurseries.

Sept 23rd 2009: See our latest film about Keyit Nursery at Wof Washa Forest

 

See this film and others from our projects at YouTube. Click picture to see them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept 15th 2009: Families at Wuchale Jidda project making incomes from dairy products 

Five Sunarma group members have joined a team to supply milk products (butter, cheese and yoghurt) to the local markets in Mukaturi and Sirti towns. 

These families deliver 80 litres of milk each day to a Cooperative Dairy Enterprise Centre, and get it processed using the cream separator and churner given by the district bureau of agriculture. The groups sell a kilo of butter, cheese and yoghurt for 80, 25 and 3 Birr respectively. 

Sunarma project beneficiary Taye Nigusse collects 10 litres of milk a day from the cow given to her by Sunarma two years ago. Presently, she delivers 6.5 litres of milk each day to the centre and earns 318.50 Birr per week. The remaining amount is used for her own consumption. 

 

Sunarma groups envisage establishing their own dairy marketing enterprise. This would enable them to attract more clients and bargain for a better price. 

In addition to providing improved variety of milk cows, Sunarma trains the beneficiary community on managing local varieties of milk cows to get a better milk production.

 

 

September 7th 2009: Wuchale Jidda (WJ) project community received second round of Seedbank grain seeds:

 

About 1578 members of WJ farming community received ‘teff’, wheat and vetch seeds amounting to 5.1 tons. The seeds have already been planted on 700 hectares of land during this planting season.

 

75 per cent of the seeds was redistributed from the seeds in grain stores returned by the community last year. The remaining 1.6 tons of seeds was an improved variety of wheat left from last year’s distribution. 

This second round seed distribution is part of Sunarma’s Seedbank project which has successfully responded to the grain seed shortage caused by the drought in 2008. However, the grain seed distribution for this year is based on the interest of Sunarma group members to plant the grain seeds on extra farmland to have more harvest.

 

The Sunarma Seedbank project has made a great contribution to ensuring the food security of the community, and finally transform the Seedbank into a profitable community owned grain-trade enterprise.

August 25th 2009: Ongoing water harvesting activities by Wuchale-Jidda (WJ) community

Eight Sunarma-supported farming community members at Wuchale Jidda are harvesting rain water in pit-ponds for the purpose of micro irrigation to grow vegetables. Some of these members have constructed two garden pit-ponds which have the capacity to water their vegetable gardens during the coming long dry season.

There is a growing interest for this activity among WJ community, as growing vegetables using micro irrigation enables them to feed their families and earn money from sales.  This water harvesting activity is particularly useful to ensure food security, as the area is suffering from prolonged drought season, like the failure of belg rain in 2008 and 2009.

A family member like Aduna Kene would like Sunarma to become more involved in supporting this activity. “My two pit-ponds collect small amount of water that have a capacity of watering my vegetable until October or November. I wish to expand my vegetable production, so I need bigger pit-ponds that collect more water.” Aduna and other members who have smaller pit-ponds walk long distance to fetch water using animal power. 

Sunarma train these families on water harvesting techniques, irrigation water management, and provide them with inputs for constructing pit-ponds and vegetable seeds to grow.   

 

August 15th 2009: Sunarma transplant tree seedlings at Wof Washa Project

Sunarma gave out more than 1.3 million indigenous and exotic tree seedlings to its beneficiaries. The seedlings have been planted on woodlots, youth-group owned plots and communal degraded sites. The estimated amount of land covered is 140 hectares.

 

Sunarma field workers train the beneficiary community on preparation of plantation site and how to make a follow up to increase the survival rate of the seedlings. The distribution of these seedlings was based on need assessment of group members and on their capacity to prepare plantation sites. see Keyit Nursery section on our Wof Washa project page.

 

Sunarma nursery program contributes a lot to reduce pressure on Wof Washa forest, creates alternative means of income for the community and contributes to soil protection effort. 

The survival rate of tree seedlings at Wof Washa is 70%.  

 

August 10th 2009: SUNARMA’s support to school nurseries at Wuchale Jidda

 

Three Sunarma-supported school environmental clubs have raised 8500 tree and vegetable seedlings, and transplanted them to private and school plots.

 

About 165 students and rural youth group members set up four nurseries to produce the seedlings. The tree seedlings are grown for the purpose of establishing privately owned woodlots and windbreaks near schools.

 

Sunarma supports the clubs and groups by training them on plot preparation, planting and transplanting, and by giving them agricultural hand tools.

 

July 31st 2009: Soil conservation activities underway at Wof Washa (WW)

 

A farming community in Wof Washa (WW) are undertaking soil conservation activities.

 

About 1,165 SUNARMA group members have recently terraced 320 hectares of steep-side slopes with rock-faced terraces to extend the area available to grow crops, trees and pastures. As the hillsides of WW areas are liable to water and wind erosion (due to over-cultivation and overgrazing), this physical soil conservation activity is very helpful.

 

SUNARMA approaches this project through training the community on watershed management, helping farmers on the ground during training activities, providing hand tools and tree or grass seeds, and following up with regular maintenance. Soil conservation activities increase land productivity, pasture land and trees for the community, which in turn enable them to produce enough crops, grass and trees to improve their lives.

 

 

July 23rd 2009: SUNARMA cattle crushes serving Wuchale Jidda (WJ) community

 

SUNARMA constructed two cattle crushes in 2008 by the request of WJ communities for the purpose of facilitating delivering of veterinary treatments and artificial insemination. Now these crushes are serving more than 4026 households (including 320 SUNARMA beneficiaries) to inseminate or vaccinate about 7000 cattle population in their locality. The construction of these cattle crushes is particularly very important to follow up the welfare of 25 improved varieties of heifers and bulls given to the community by SUNARMA.

 

Before these crushes were constructed in their district, the WJ community was using crushes walking a long way from their locality or just manpower to control animals, which was unsafe for the community members and vets.  The construction of these crushes has now saved their time and reduced physical risks.

The WJ community has contributed labour and locally available material, and the local government office offered a plot of land.

Now the WJ community own the crushes and are responsible for running and maintenance.

 

July 13th 2009: Forage development at Wuchale Jidda (WJ)

 

Sixty-eight Wuchale Jidda group members are growing seven different types of improved forage crops on 12 hectares of land. Among these types are 308 kg of vetch seeds and 1500 cuttings of elephant grass. Introducing improved varieties of animal forage supports particularly SUNARMA’s heifer management program by providing enough feeds. This increases milk production so that the community can earn a better income from milk sale. A forage crop like elephant grass also contributes to soil conservation.

 

As these forages are cut and carry type, the land is not affected by overgrazing. Moreover, some forage types like vetch increase soil fertility.

 

Animal forages were introduced to WJ after SUNARMA field workers trained the community on forage promotion, land preparation, forage development and improved animal management. The farmers will be harvesting these forage crops by October or November.

 

 

 

 

3rd July 2009: Group savings grows at Wuchale Jidda Project

 

About 256 community members in 15 SUNARMA groups saved 11,179.50 Birr through the revolving fund scheme. The scheme was introduced to the WJP communities by SUNARMA in 2006 with an injection of some 77,700 Birr seed money.

 

Each group has already developed a bylaw for loan services and repayments. A group member can apply for a loan of 700 Birr, and returns with an interest amount of 35 Birr (5%) after six months. The interest is deposited as group capital. Recently, all group members have agreed to extend the interest rate to 10%. This will help them to increase their capital twice as fast. 

Since the inception of the revolving fund, more than 80% of the members have benefited by investing on sheep fattening, small grain trades and grain seed business. 

 

 

 

30th June 2009: Welcome to new member of staff:

 

SUNARMA have recently recruited Dr. Admasu Kebede in the position of Programme Coordinator at Addis Ababa Head Office.

Dr. Admasu got his BSC in Agricultural Economics from Addis Ababa University, and specialized in farm management at the Bulgarian Institute of Agricultural Economics. He has a professional experience of 23 years in various government offices in the position of farm management expert, extension expert, land use expert and agricultural inputs marketing expert.

At SUNARMA, Dr. Admasu manages activity programs, provides professional supports, coordinates trainings and be responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluation activities.

Dr. Admasu’s strong academic background, workable relation with government offices and successful track records would serve SUNARMA a great deal in its present and future activities. 

All SUNARMA staff in Ethiopia and UK welcome Dr. Admasu and wish him a successful time with SUNARMA.

 

19th June 2009: Wuchale and Jidda community received potato seeds from SUNARMA

About 8.5 quintals of potato seeds were distributed to some 120 families at Wuchale and Jidda woredas. Each family received 14 kg of potato seeds from their respective groups on a ‘loan basis’. These families planted these seeds this June and will harvest in late August, which they return to their groups and the group in turn pass on to another group member.

 

SUNARMA makes input to this activity in various forms. Before planting, SUNARMA field workers train the farmers on land and compost preparation. During the subsequent activities, the field workers assist the farmers with planting, applying compost, repealing pests, harvesting and looking for market opportunities.

Through SUNARMA assistance, the community prepares compost from animal dung and pest control from ash and animal wastes. This practice has been found advantageous as being cheap, long lasting, sustainable, environmentally friendly and it improves soil fertility.

 

SUNARMA introduced potato to the Wuchale and Jidda community in 2008 as part of income and crop diversification program that contributed to a better natural resource management and improving the lives of the community.

12th June 2009: Sunarma Addis HQ staff celebrate with Leulseged Defega after he achieved his Masters Degree.

 

The attached pictures show Leulseged Degefa; - Administration and Finance Head, Celebrating achieving a Masters degree in Commerce and International Business Sunarma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff congratulate Leulseged Degefa in this great achievment

 

Back row L to R:

 

Shiferaw Dibaba, Project Coordinaor, Conservation through the market project,

Amare Kebebe SUNARMA Chief Executive,

Leulseged Degefa Administration and Finance Head,

Piers Langdon SUNARMA UK,

Yodit Mamo – Admin and Finance Assistant Wofwasha,

Leykun Birhanu: Project Coordinator Wofwasha Project,

Front Row -

Driba Adamu, driver, Conservation through the market project, Tatek Muluneh, Finance and Administration Officer, Conservation through the market project

 

 

 

 

 

12th June 2009: The construction of five seed stores has been completed at Wuchale Jidda Project (WJP).

 

These stores are part of the SUNARMA Seedbank project that was initiated in 2008 to respond to the drought in Ethiopia.

 

Through the emergency seed programme, about 48.9 tones of ‘teff’, wheat and vetch seeds were distributed to farmers in SUNARMA project areas on loan basis.

 

The farmers planted the seeds on their farmland, and they managed to harvest last November and December. All farmers at WJP returned the seeds to their group leaders and stored in temporary stores till the grain stores were completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next step is to facilitate the community to take up the management of the stores and Seeedbank programme. From each district, three SUNARMA groups (20-22 members in each group) will join to form a committee that is responsible for managing and running the stores. The Seedbank initiative also facilitates not only storing and lending seeds, but also buying and selling surplus grain.

 

Some groups have already collected an extra of 10kg from each group member. With this regard, SUNARMA field workers will train the farmers on business orientation and management. Right after transporting the grain to the stores, second round grain loan service will be started.

 

The community has already agreed that during this second lending time it will be on the basis of interest rate of 20%. This will help the groups accumulate their capital. During the construction of the grain stores, the community has made a great contribution in addition to SUNARMA’s technical and financial inputs.

 

 

 

 

26th May 2009: Thanksgiving Service at St Matthews for the life of Dick Sandford.

A thanksgiving service for the life of the late Dick Sandford was conducted in Ethiopia at St. Mathews Anglican Church in the presence Ethiopian friends, colleagues, old neighbours and the British community in Addis Ababa.

 

Dick Sandford was born in Ethiopia to Brigadier Dan Sandford and Chris Sandford in 1924. This family was best known in Ethiopia for their contributions to the Ethiopian independence and education. Dan Sandford led the British and Ethiopian patriots to free Ethiopia during Italian occupation, and Chris Sandford started Sandford School, one of the best schools in Ethiopia.

 

Their son, Dick Sandford was well-known for his contribution to the development of livestock sector in Ethiopia. Before Dick Sandford passed away on 19th April 2009, he was helping various NGOs, including SUNARMA with technical advice.

 

 

 

 

16th May 2009: Sunarma Groups establishing new nurseries at Wof-washa

Following the training on starting and managing a nursery, about 30 small size group owned nurseries were established by the farming communities in Wof-washa project. The communities started their nurseries on plots of land granted by district government officials. Besides training and follow-up, SUNARMA provides tree seeds, hand tools and watering cans.

Communities benefit from group nurseries in different ways. Each member of the group develops a sense of ownership since they fully participate in establishing the nurseries. So they make better inputs to manage the nurseries. During the previous project phase, community members were receiving tree seedling from SUNARMA-managed and government-owned nurseries.   Now group members get tree seedlings from their own nurseries, which is very sustainable. Above all, these community members harvest their trees in 5 year’s time and they will earn extra income by selling. Moreover, they will use the trees for construction and fuel-food. This will reduce the pressure on Wof-washa natural forest.  As each member of the group plant trees on their plot, they contribute a great amount to save the soil.

Group nurseries produce mainly Eucalyptus trees and some amount of indigenous ones. These nurseries take SUNARMA’s ‘forest and land use project’ a step forward to meet its objective of improving the lives of the communities in and around the Wof-washa natural forest.

 

3rd May 2009: It is with great sadness that we announce that Dick Sandford died on the 18th of April. His contribution to Ethiopia was immense and he help found and guide SUNARMA since its formation in 2001. Dick was born in Ethiopia and had a deep love of the country and its people.

 

He had many Ethiopian friends and some of them have recorded this message below:- 

Message of Condolence to Anne, the Family, Relatives and Friends of Dick Sandford 

It was a great shock to us to hear the passing away of Dick. We feel very much missing his wise counsel, good spirit and friendship.  

It is a sad moment for all of us. Dick was a good father, brother and friend to all of us. We grieve much and share the pain of sorrow with you. We lost a great man.  
His work, contribution and devotion to the development effort of our country, Ethiopia, can never be forgotten. We all came to know Dick while he was working for government offices and NGOs in Ethiopia.  

Dick has served Ethiopia for almost all his life time, and will long be remembered by the Ethiopian farmers, herders, development workers in environment protection, agriculture, eco-tourism, development of the livestock sector and many other rural sector and urban settings.  

During his time in Ethiopia, Dick has discharged his duties with the highest efficiencies, devoting his knowledge, skills, ability, service and time to all.   

We know Dick as a man of visions, ideas, resourceful, productive, kind, tolerant and very helpful person. We were lucky to work with him and learn a lot from him. 

His legacy shall remain with us and of course with the people of Ethiopia whom he loved so much.  

Our feelings here are shared by our colleagues, and all those who knew Dick. They join us in conveying to you our heartfelt sympathy, and we pray to God to give you strength to bear the loss.

May his soul rest in peace!  At this moment of grief, 
May God give strength to Anne, his children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters and all Sandford family, relatives and friends! 
We all pray for you! 
God Bless you! 

Friends from Ethiopia

 

26th April 2009: Sunarma Introduce Inset (False Banana) seedlings

SUNARMA have recently supplied the beneficiary communities in Wof Washa and Wuchale Jidda Projects with some 1900 inset seedlings. The seedlings were purchased from the Gurage region of Southern Nations where inset plantatios are known very well. The root of inset is used as a human food in the form of ‘kocho’ (looks pancake), porridge and soup. The part above ground is used for the purpose of animal forage. The leaves can be also used to bake local bread. ‘Inset’ is highly drought resistant and believed to be more useful for WWP and WJP communities as the areas are affected by longer dry weather. ‘Inset’ takes four to six years to get ripe and be ready for use.

“I received ten ‘inset’ seedlings from SUNARMA,” said Degitu Geresu from WJP, “it is new to our area and SUNARMA field workers trained us how to plant and care. I will be able to mix its flour with barley or wheat to bake ‘injera’ and bread.”

 

22nd April 2009: SUNARMA Seedbank project makes production sustainable 

 

The Wuchale Jidda community was adversely affected by the 2008 drought in Ethiopia. It even forced SUNARMA to take up relief activities through the ‘emergency grain seed distribution’. This activity has led to the establishment of ‘SUNARMA seedbank project’. Through this initiative, WJP farmers have already harvested their produce. This harvest has created a great opportunity for farmers to sustain their ‘belg’ harvesting. As the belg rain of this year was in time, the WJP communities were able to sell these seeds to buy more grain seeds for this belg harvest. The community has already covered their farm plots with barley which is to be harvested in May and June. Those farmers who use irrigation have already started harvesting.

The seasonal rain has also grown fresh grass for the livestock.

 

 

 

 

31st March 2009 - Community involved as works starts on Seedbank Construction

More than 400 community members of Wuchale Jidda Project are participating in the construction of five grain stores. As the construction progresses, the community have cleared the sites, removed earth, collected hard core, supplied wooden poles and prepared a byway for transporting inputs to the sites. On top of that the community is also supplying water and additional labour required during the construction.

Construction of the five grain stores has been started and is expected to be completed by 19 of April 2009. The construction of grain stores has been intensified as the community has already returned all ‘teff' and wheat, and 75% of vetch seed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26th March 2009 - Sunarma receives cheque from School Charity Fundraising Drive

 

The students from Year 9 at Broadlands School, Keynsham near Bristol, have chosen SUNARMA as their charity of the year and had raised a fantastic £455.26 which they presented to Piers Langdon of SUNARMA UK.

Piers visited the school yesterday to talk to years 9, 10 & 11 about the ancient civilisation of Ethiopia and SUNARMA's work there. The funds that year 9 had raised would go towards improving water and irrigation systems in the Wuchale and Jidda area of Ethiopia 100km north of Addis Ababa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23rd March 2009 - Sunarma Nurseries boost seedling production:

Keyit and Ankober nurseries of Wof Washa Project are currently growing eucalyptus seedlings on 138 beds which will be distributed among the beneficiary community for the coming rainy season starting in June. SUNARMA encourages the rehabilitation of indigenous trees. To this end, 26,000 seedlings of juniper and 8 beds of other varieties (Olea and Cordia Africana) are being grown by the nurseries. To strengthen the income diversification scheme, SUNARMA is also growing 1394 rootstocks of apple tree at Keyit nursery.

In 2008 alone, more than one million multipurpose trees , 12,000 indigenous trees and 1394 root stocks of apple trees were distributed among the beneficiaries.

The third SUNARMA nursery at Tarma Ber will go operational this year and will increase the number and variety of seedlings to be distributed to the beneficiaries.