Description of project intervention sites On project inception workshop By: Gerba Leta, Kebebe Ergano & Alemayehu Belay ILRI-Addis 28 September 2010

Distribution of human population Woreda /District/ Population Women Men Total Average persons/HH Jeldu102,79699,859202,6557 Diga35,14533,76568,9107 Fogera207, 1208 Source: WoARD

Historical trend analysis of landuse/cover changes Population has been booming over the last few decades Forest clearing for cultivation of the terrain and fragile land has been concurrently growing particularly in Jeldu & Diga woreda during the last couple of decades Concept & practice of NRM has been introduced during the Derge regime along with emerging disaster owing to natural and anthropogenic factors (the approach is, however, top-down) Other than Fogera, the current efforts to arrest and reverse the growing land degradation problem is marginal Overall, the need for managing land & water is emerging but constrained largely by shortage of resources and skill

Predominant crops and farming systems WoredaPredominant crops along agro-ecology Highland Midland Lowland Remark JelduBarley, wheat, potato- livestock Wheat, barley, teff-livestock Sorghum, maize, teff-livestock Mixed crop- livestock system is a common practice for all sites. Diga---Teff, millet, maize- livestock Maize, sorghum, sesame-livestock FogeraBarley, Niger seed, wheat, –livestock Rice, maize, millet, teff- livestock ---- Source: WoARD

Landuse patterns of the study sites

Livestock population of the woreda

Crop-livestock contribution to the livelihood (source of income) WoredaPercent contribution (on average) LivestockCrop Jeldu3070 Diga3070 Fogera3367

Characterizing rainfall, altitude & agro ecology WoredaMean annual RF (mm) & its distribution Altitude (m asl)Agro-ecology (%) Jeldu (seldom unpredictable with erratic & erosive nature) Lowland (25), Midland (30) & Highland (45) Diga (uniform and & torrential) Midland (40) Lowland (60) Fogera (Fluctuate/erratic) Midland/plain(75) Highland (25)

Land feature & soil types WoredaLand featureSoil types JelduUndulating /rolling Diverse shallow soil (Leptic)* Acidity is highly prevailing Low fertility mng’t practices DigaUndulating midland to relatively flat lowland Dynamic soil types b/c changes in landuse- Histic Nitosols *is common Acidity is widespread problem Low fertility mng’t practices FogeraFlat plain and steep highlandUtric vertisol (plain) & leptosol (highland)* * Specific soil types will be verified in the future

Prevailing problems & opportunities for intervention WoredaIssues(problems)Opportunities Jeldu Severe land degradation & high level of poverty shortage of farm/grazing land Accelerated erosion & productivity decline Poor land management Growing soil acidity Widespread food insecurity in 23/38 rural kebeles* Large livestock popn. with poor mng’t Livestock disease & lack access to improved breed Erratic & erosive rainfall Expansion of Eucalyptus plantation Ideal climate for introduction of highland fruits, feeds & other MPTs Numerous small streams & rivers for expansion of irrigation around lower streams Growing awareness on intensification of livestock mng’t Available local market for livestock & their product Relative disease free area for potato & access to its seed Emerging public interest for land & water mng’t Positive impact from Highland initiative & Holeta Agr. Research *Kebele = sub district

Issues & opportunities… WoredaIssues/problems/opportunities Diga Soil erosion & land degradation Farm & grazing land shortage Poor land & water management practice Soil acidity and termite infestation Poor livestock mng’t (feed, health, popn.) Shortage of drinking water in few kebeles Livestock disease Encroachment to the remnant forest from informal intra & inter - regional settlers Good climate for growing crops Numerous but unexploited perennial rivers for irrigation dev’t Nearby market for livestock & their products Growing livestock tethering practice that facilitate intervention Strong government effort to scale up irrigation dev’t & introduction of livestock feed Fogera Large livestock popn & associated feed shortage Livestock disease Shortage of improved breed Water logging during the rainy season and water scarcity during the offseason Presence of NGO’s for promoting technologies (IPMS & EWNRA) Involvement of d/t research & dev’t organization Adequate water for irrigation dev’t Good awareness & initiative on NRM

Major Actors involved in the intervention sites : a) Government line offices: 1. Woreda Office of Administration 2. Woreda Office of Agriculture and Rural Development 3. Woreda Livestock production & marketing Agency 4. Woreda office of rural water resource 5. Cooperative promotion office 6. Regional government line offices (Agriculture, water) & Seed enterprises 7. Federal and Regional Agricultural Research Institutes & Universities b) Private Enterprises/Associations 1. Saving and credit Association 2. Veterinary clinics (area specific) 3. Traders (Retail and wholesaler)

Major actors… 4. Brokers 5. Farmers cooperative union 6. Farmers c) NGOs (types and presence is area specific) 1. Hunger project 2. Hope 2020Jeldu woreda 3. IPMS 4. EWNRAFogera No NGO is involving in Diga woreda.