| Objective / Goal |
The objective of the project was to address the humanitarian needs and revive the agricultural productivity of the most vulnerable and drought affected households in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). The specific objectives of the project were to increase and improve the
access of rural smallholder vulnerable households to essential inputs
for the Meher cropping season through the supply of essential inputs
combined with the necessary training and extension services.
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| Activities |
Activities included: - Procurement and distribution of inputs.
The project was able to purchase and distribute 484 644 tonnes of seeds, of which 190 850 tonnes (39.4 percent) was procured through national tender, 83 200 tonnes (17.1 percent) through cash-for-seed activities and 210 594 tonnes (43.5 percent) through seed fairs. Of the total seeds supplied, 82.9 percent was distributed in SNNPR State and 17.1 percent in Tigray Regional State. Seeds of the major food crops were selected for distribution to each woreda based on their yield, adaptation, the economic potential of each of the crops and the farmers’ choice. The major seeds distributed under this project were teff, maize, chickpea and haricot beans. In addition, vegetable
seeds, enset corms and coffee seedlings were also distributed. - Training.
The project conducted training for woreda level experts and NGO staff. The training was provided on seed fair and voucher management. Two rounds of one-day training were held for three zones/eight beneficiary woredas. The definition and benefit of seed fairs, assessing the need, targeting beneficiaries, assessing the availability of seeds, sensitization and popularization of seed fairs, implementation of seed fairs and monitoring and evaluation were the main topics discussed during the training. A total of 60 participants attended these training sessions. - Other project activities.
The project planned to distribute vegetable seeds to restore home gardening activities in order to improve the nutrition intake and income of farmers, including women-headed households. This complementary activity intended to enable farmers to establish small-scale home gardening. The project purchased and distributed 150 kg of different vegetable seeds to both project regions. This was 40 percent of the amount initially planned. The initial target was to assist approximately 4 500 households in SNNPR State. In total, 4 000 households were actually given vegetable seed assistance. This was adjusted based on the actual need on the ground as verified during project
inception. Tigray Regional State, which was not targeted initially, was covered during time of implementation.
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