Office secures 18.2 million USD from coffee export

The Dire Dawa Coffee Reaserch and Quality Control office said that it has secured more than 18.2 million USD income from coffee exported to various countries over the past six months. The stated sum was secured from 5,089 tones of coffee exported to Saudi Arabia, Japan, USA and various European countries. The income obtained during the reported period surpassed that of same time the previous year by 1.2 million USD. he success is said to be improved price of coffee in the global market. Efforts are being made to export 18,000 tones of coffee to various countries in the current Ethiopian fiscal year. (ENA)

Over 110 mln birr market center nearing completion

Some 79 percent of the modern market center being built with over 110 million birr by Qedamai Woyane Traders Cooperative has been completed, the construction management board said. Presenting a performance report at the fifth regular conference of the cooperative, Construction management board chairperson Gebremedhin Teklehaimanot said the first phase construction launched three years ago has been finalized.
The market center resting on 14,293 hectares would be fully completed by the coming May, it was learnt. Over 86 million birr was so far utilized for constructing the four-storey building, according to Gebremedhin. The center will have rooms for more than 650 shops, a bank and an insurance, hall, a modern restaurant that accommodates 500 people, among others, he said. The center being built by 612 businesspersons in Mekelle town and abroad would contribute towards boosting trade and creating employment, he added.
The construction work which was slated for last December got delayed due to price increase in construction materials, Gebremedhin explained. Upon going operational, the market center could accommodate over 3,000 people in a day, it was indicated. (Walta)

Zone to carry out 100 mln Birr development projects

The north Gondar zone disaster prevention office announced that various development works would be carried out in drought prone woredas of the zone with over 100 million Birr allocated fro safety-net program. The development works would be carried out in nine woredas exposed to drought due to shortage of rain.
More than 370,000 people in the woredas who are exposed to acute food shortage would be benefited by taking part in the development works. Residents of the woredas would take part in soils and water conservation, forest and irrigation development and other development works meant to ensure their food security, the representative said. Moreover, the people would earn income by contributing labor in the construction of roads, water, education and health institutions. In addition to the cash payment, about 12,000 quintals of food grain would be distributed among the people for the implementation of the program. (ENA)

Spain donates 1mln Euros to scale up food security intervention in two zones

The Embassy of Spain has signed a tripartite project agreement to scale up food security intervention in Northern Shoa and Southern Tigray zones with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) and FAO in Ethiopia. According to a press release issued by the embassy, the government of Spain donated one million Euros for a two year period starting January 2008 and Ethiopia will contribute three million birr in kind. The funds will be managed by FAO and at federal level by MoARD in collaboration with the ministries of Education and Health, it indicated.
The Food Security Offices of the Amhara and Tigray States will be the implementers at regional levels in collaboration with Bureaus of Agriculture and Rural Development, Education and Health. At the district level, the Food security Coordination Offices will be the responsible implementing agency, the release pointed out. At the signing ceremony Dr. Abera Deressa, State Minister of MoARD, praised the Spanish government for the continued assistance to the Ethiopian government in support of its efforts to rid its people of hunger and poverty.
FAO sub-regional coordinator and representative in Ethiopia, to AU and ECA, Mafa Chipeta, on his part stated that he believes this is only a widow to a much wider and bigger assistance. The Spanish Ambassador expressed confidence that the assistance will improve the nutrition and food security situation in the two zones of Amhara and Tigray states, and also be able to attract more assistance for replication of other food and nutrition insecure communities in the country, the statement pointed out.

Debretabor constructing 30 million Birr condos

The Debretabor town housing development office said it is undertaking the construction of 764 condominium houses at a cost of 30 million Birr to address the acute housing problems in the town. Over 600 organized youth are supplying construction materials for the ongoing construction of the condominium houses.
The town administration has finalized preparation to launch the construction of other 236 condominium houses in the town. Molla said 76 percent of work on the construction of 550 condominium houses, launched last budget year with 19 million Birr has already been completed. (ENA)

Bureau utilizing 800mln birr to register agricultural growth for sixth time in Amhara State

The Amhara State Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau said it has been executing various activities with 800 million birr to repeat the agricultural growth in the state for the sixth time this year. Efforts have been underway to support agricultural works with modern technology so as to attain the desired result.
Accordingly, preparations have been made to offer capacity building training to farmers and sustainably provide agricultural inputs and loan, he said. The head stated that two million quintals of fertilizer would be distributed to farmers this production season and the bureau has been working in integration with agricultural inputs supply enterprises and farmer unions. Three agricultural inputs supply unions have so far agreed to import more than 860,000 quintals of fertilizers. An agreement has also been reached with suppliers for the delivery of 170 quintals of select seed. (Walta)

Japan donates 1 mln USD to WFP to assist refugees in Ethiopia

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday welcomed a donation of one million USD from the Government of Japan to assist refugees living in camps in the Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, WFP said.
According to a statement it sent to Capital on Tuesday, the amount would be used to purchase over 1,000 metric tons of wheat, 155 metric tons of fortified blended food and 74 metric tons of sugar to assist 27,000 Somali refugees in Kebribeyah and Teferiber camps.
"This contribution and very generous humanitarian gesture reinforces the Government of Japan's commitment to assisting the vulnerable and needy. WFP Ethiopia is extremely grateful for this donation," the statement quoted WFP Representative in Ethiopia, Mohamed Diab as saying. Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Kinichi Komano said the donation is an additional demonstration of his government's support to global peace and to the implementation of the Humanitarian Law and the Human Security principles in Africa, as well as a contribution to the efforts that Ethiopia is undertaking as a host country of Somali refugees. (News Release)