Following the agreement signed in 2008 between Ethiopia, Israel, and Germany, the three parties launched a pilot agricultural development project on June 18, 2009, to enable Ethiopia enhance small-scale irrigation development activities in different parts of the nation. Expected to benefit over 1,000 farmers, the pilot project will be implemented in the Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, and South Ethiopia Peoples’ States. The project will complement the Ethiopian government’s efforts geared toward ensuring food security and self-sufficiency.
The three-year project was launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the Israeli Embassy, in the presence of Ethiopia’s Agriculture and Rural Development State Minister, Beshir Abdulahi; German Ambassador to Ethiopia, Dr. Claas Dieter Knoop; and Israel Ambassador to Ethiopia, Oded Ben-Haim.
Speaking at the occasion, Minister Beshir Abdulahi said the main objective of the project is improving the capacity of local farmers toward adopting possible climatic changes. The project has three main components: promotion of sustainable water resources management, improving irrigation productivity, and utilization of non-potable water resources.
Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Oded Ben-Haim said that the project will have great impact in enhancing cooperation to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. German Ambassador to Ethiopia Dr. Claas Dieter Knoop said the launching of the project is important to enhance multilateral cooperation among the governments of Germany, Israel, and Ethiopia.