Plant tissue culture laboratory to issue over 650,000 high species

Mekelle Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory said it would distribute more than 650,000 high yielding and disease resistant vegetable, fruit and flower species to farmers beginning this month.
The species to be apportioned among farmers include banana, vine, sugarcane and flower species. Preparations have been finalized to supply the vegetable, fruit and flower species to farmers. Among them include rose rootstock species prepared for flower producers, it was pointed out.
The species would be distributed through the state agriculture and rural development bureau. Those who make individual request could directly contact the laboratory. The laboratory has been undertaking activities to multiply and supply up to five million vegetable and fruit species annually to farmers across the country, he added. Mekelle Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory was established with 10 million birr capital under Dejena Endowment a year ago, it was learnt. (Walta)

Ministry, company ink over 85 million Birr agreement

The Ministry of Water Resources and Gammo Technofab Engineering Limited on Tuesday signed an over 85 million Birr agreement providing for the execution of electro mechanical activities. Minister of Water Resources Asfaw Dingamo and Company Director Nakul Gupta signed the agreement representing their respective institutions.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister said the stated sum of money would be utilized to procurement and installation of electro mechanical equipment for Harar potable water and sanitation project.
The procurement and installation of the equipment is expected to be completed with in 300 days. The company would exert all the necessary efforts to complete the work as per the schedule. The Company has plans to execute similar activities here in Ethiopia in the future. Installation of the main water pipe from Hasaliso to Harar town and other relevant activities are being executed by other contractors. (ENA)

AILD slaughterhouse under construction with over 75mln birr

The modern slaughterhouse it has been constructing with more than 75 million birr will go operational this August. 40 percent of the construction of the slaughterhouse launched last January has so far been completed. On completion the slaughterhouse would supply meat and mutton of 1,200 sheep, goats and oxen in a day.
Along the construction work, machineries worth more than 25 million birr are imported. Meanwhile the company has been fattening animals in Alamata, Agbena and Shire-Endasellasse towns with a view to addressing shortage of supply when the slaughterhouse begins work. Upon going operational, the slaughterhouse would create job to 82 compatriots, it was learnt. (Walta)

Farmers engaged in income generating works

Farmers in North Shoa zone of the Amhara State are engaged in various income generating activities with more than 29 million Birr budget earmarked by the safety net program, zonal disaster prevention and food security office announced.
8,000 family head farmers in seven drought prone woredas of the zone are engaged in income generating schemes. Agriculture, cattle fattening, dairy production, poultry, apiary, weavery and textile, metal and wood works are among the activities the farmers are engaged in.The farmers received relevant training and up to 5,000 Birr loan per head. More than 6,000 farmers were benefited by the program last year. (ENA)

SNNP State earns over 14 mln birr from tourists in six months

More than 14 million birr has been secured from tourists who visited SNNP State during the past six months, according to the state tourism, parks and hotels agency. Speaking at a tour guide training organized for youth in Butajira town. The youth have been the huge responsibility of promoting tourist attractions in the state and the objective reality of the country.
12.7 million birr was earned last Ethiopian year from tourists who visited the natural and historical attractions of the state while over 14 million birr was secured during the past half year alone.The agency has managed to get two parks recognized last year. Adding that preparations have also been finalized to secure the recognition of two additional parks this budget year. Some 55 youth drawn from 13 zones, one special woreda and two town administrations of the state are in attendance of the training that lasts 10 days, it was learnt. (Walta)

Primary schools, additional classrooms go operational in Gurage Zone

Some 17 new primary schools and 171 additional classrooms built with more than 10.3 million birr in Gurage Zone of SNNP State have gone operational. Speaking at a discussion form in Butajira town. Activities that support the efforts of the government to provide quality education for all are being carried out by the public, governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Close to 220,000 books and other educational materials were also provided to the schools, according to him. More than 43,000 children were able to join school in the year following the effort made in the millennium. Adults and youth in the zone have been attending classes in 427 kebeles of the zone. Adding that activities are underway to transfer all 20 of the non-formal schools among those to regular schools within the coming three months. (Walta)

Nation secures over 854 million USD from export sector in 8 months

The Trade and Industry Affairs Standing Committee announced that the performance of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and line offices over the past eight months was commendable. The nation has secured more than 854.5 million USD from agriculture and industry products it exported to the foreign market over the past eight months. Minister of Trade and Industry, Girma Birru presented his Ministry's eight month performance report to the House of Peoples' Representatives.
The Standing Committee during the session said that the ministry has carried out notable activities in export, industry, investment, market stabilizing and other sectors. The volume of items exported to the foreign market during the reported period is up by 32 percent from that of last year same period. The diversification of export products is also growing. Similarly, the industry sector has shown an improvement as expected, owing to the support and follow-up given by all concerned bodies. (ENA)