By: Nakachew Ayele
Addis Ababa( Ethiopia Today) April 3, 2023 The European Union (EU), France Development Agency, and Ethiopian government signed a 32 million euro financial support agreement in a bid to support the effort of food security in conflict-affected areas.
The financing agreement was signed by Semereta Sewasew, state minister of finance; Valérie Tehio, AFD director in Ethiopia; and Dr. Stefan Lock, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ethiopia.
The financing agreement is intended for the project Food security and agriculture rehabilitation measures in conflict-affected regions of Ethiopia, which is funded at 18 million euros by AFD and 14 million euros by the EU, respectively.
The project will be implemented by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Transformation (ATI) in northern Ethiopia, especially in the areas affected by the conflict in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions, providing farmers with the necessary resources to restart production and rehabilitate the service infrastructure in order to avoid an unprecedented crisis.
According to the ministry of finance, the project aimed at addressing the most urgent needs by reviving agricultural production in these areas, and strengthening food self-sufficiency in Ethiopia.
In the first phase, improved seeds such as cereals, legumes, and vegetables, as well as an improved breed of poultry, selected small ruminants, horticultural seeds, and irrigation pumps that will benefit at least 533,000 households, will be provided .
