ADDIS
ABABA
World
Bank grants $2.7 mln.
The Ethiopian Rural
Energy Development Promotion Center said it has received 2.7 million
USD in loan from the World Bank to implement the project of improving
fuel utilization in the country.
Center General Manager
Asres Wolde-Giorgis said the fund would be utilized for the production
of various fuel-saving stoves and equipment necessary for baking
injera.
The project has enabled
the country to save 21 million USD that was spent on energy supply per
annum, he said.
The center is also under
preparation to distribute 320,000 various stoves to the states in the
next three years, Asres said.
Tigray, Mara, Oromia,
Gambela, Benshangul-Gumuz and southern State would become
beneficiaries of the project.
DIRE
DAWA
2.2
mln.birr food security projects underway
Various developmental
projects aimed at ensuring food security were carried out in Dire Dawa
Administrative Council at a coast of over 2.2 million birr, Water,
Mines and energy Office of the Administration said.
Office Head Mohamed Amin
said the project includes the sinking of water wells and water
harvesting as well as the development of springs.
Mohamed said 1,020
households are expected to benefit from the projects undertaken in 13
selected localities of the administration.
The government allocated
fund for the execution of the projects.
SNNPRS
Over 6 mln. Birr agricultural dev’t projects
underway
Various agricultural
development projects worth over 6.2 million birr were underway in the
Benshangul-Gumuz State during the current Ethiopian budget year, the
state’s agriculture bureau said.
Planning and programme
services expert with the bureau, Alemayehu Tilahun said that the
projects included, among others, the construction of 14 vet health
posts, nine farmers’ sites, and an agriculture development office.
8.5 mln. Birr health projects under execution
Work on the construction
of 17 health facilities was in progress in eight woredas of Southwest
Shoa Zone, Oromia State at a cost of 8.5 million Birr, the zonal
health department said.
Department Head, Dr.
Tadesse Korcha said that the health projects included building two
health stations and 15 health posts, which will give access to primary
health services for over 80,000 people. The fund for the construction
of the health institutions was secured from the government, Oromia
Development Associations (ODA), World Vision-Ethiopia, and African
Development Fund (ADF), he said.
TIGRAY
Beekeepers secure over 7 mln. Birr from honey
sales
The Tigray State
Agricultural Development and Natural Resources Bureau said that
farmers participated in beekeeping extension program in the state have
obtained over seven million birr form the sales of honey.
Extension Programmes
Expert with the Bureau, Eyasu Abraha said that 10,331 farmers are
participating in beekeeping in 34 woredas of the state.
He said the farmers are
currently harvesting 30 Kg of honey from a technologically improved
beehive against 5 Kg of the traditional beehive.
The beekeeping farmers
were given over 371,000 birr in loan to adopt technologies, he added.
Over 90 mln. Birr allocated for bee-keeping
extension package
The Tigray State
Agricultural and Natural Resources Development Bureau said that it has
earmarked over 90 million birr for the execution of apiculture
extension package in the state.
Extension programme
expert with the bureau, Eyasu Abraha said that over 144,000 farmers
would be embraced in the package in 22 woredas over the coming three
years.
He said 35,000 farmers
would participate in the programme this current Ethiopian year with
the provision of 20 million birr loan to be utilized for the
procurement of masks and honey filtering machinery.
AMHARA
17 mln. birr irrigation project launched
Irrigation development
project have reportedly been commenced under the Kobo-Girana Valley
Development Programme Office with an outlay of 13.5 million birr.
Acting Office Manager
Adinew Abate said that the irrigation development through the use of
underground water in drought-prone woredas of Kobo, Gambelafto, Habru
and Giden woredas of North Wollo Zone, Amhara State has the potential
to develop 480 hectares.
His office has afforested
5,090-square Kilometer of land with various tree seedlings in the
effort to ensure sustainable environmental development over the last
one year.
OROMIA
Office undertakes over 4.8 mln. birr food
security projects
Various projects aimed at
ensuring foods security have carried out in six drought hit woredas of
Arsi Zone, Oromia State at a cost of over 4.8 million birr, the Zonal
Food Security Coordination Office said.
Office Head, Gemeda Balge
said the projects were undertaken in Merti, Ziway-Dugda, Dodata-Sire,
Asko, Amigna and Diksis Woredas.
Gemeda said the project
were mainly in the areas of soil and water conservation, clean water
provision, water harvesting, among others.
Over 34,000 people have
become beneficiaries of the project undertaken by the government and
NGOS he said.
Organization loans over 1.5 mln. to needy women
Pastoralist concern
association Ethiopia, a non governmental organization, says it has
provided over 1.5 million birr loan to 500 destitute women living in
two zones of Somali State this Ethiopian year.
Organization
administrator, Elias Guye said yesterday that women engaged in small
business, animal husbandry and dairy development activities in Afder
and Liben zones have become beneficiaries.
Pastoralists harvest over 12,000 quintals
through irrigation
Some 350 pastoralists
involved in West Gode Irrigation Development Project in the Somali
state have harvested 12,480 quintals of Maize from 350 hectares, a
senior expert of the project said.
Kinfu Zenebe said the
project was aimed at enabling pastoralist in the area engage in
farming and lead a sedentary life.
The Federal and State
governments designed the project at a cost of over 155 million birr
with a view to changing the lives of pastoralists by harnessing the
Wabe-Shebele River.
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Tuesday
January 6, 2004
