The Harvest Plus project implemented by ORDA and IIRR is helping farmers in Dewa Chefa, Ethiopia through various interventions like constructing communal ponds, providing irrigation, and training farmers. The ponds have opened the eyes of farmers by helping them grow crops even during periods of inadequate rainfall through irrigation. Farmers are now able to produce crops year-round and increase their incomes. Young farmers like Ibrahim Seid have greatly benefited from the ponds and are able to earn a good living through irrigated farming. The project has constructed over 70 ponds irrigating 440 hectares of land, improving food security and livelihoods in the area.

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10. Clustering a new initiative for better productivity
By Esubalew Dires
The Organization for Rehabilitation & Development in Amhara (ORDA) & International
Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) are implementing Harvest Plus project funded by SIDA.
They carried out developmental interventions to boost productivity of smallholder
agriculturalists and get landless youths engaged on various income generation activities. Hence,
due to its fruitful achievements in pilot areas of the project, SIDA agreed with ORDA to extend
the project for two more years. The project is being implemented to benefit 9,600 households
(20% FHH) to sustainably improve their productivity and create jobs for 3,600 landless youths
and women (20%) in 24 kebeles of districts of Tehuledere and Ambasel at South Wollo and
Dewa Chefa & Bati at Oromia administrative zones.

11. In project intervention woredas, farmers are delivered a variety of improved cereals such as tef
(cross 387/kuncho), maize (BH 540), haricot bean (Arerti), peanut (Worer 961 & 962), mung
bean (Green & oval), vegetable seeds and fruit seedlings. Far beyond, the project engaged
jobless women and youths on cattle fattening, dairy, apiary, sheep breeding and fattening,
poultry and assisted beneficiaries to establish village-based loan and saving groups.
In 2015/16 production year, the project supported 1,989 farmers of Dewa Chefa (of which 228
FHHs) and covered 336 hectares of land with varied crops. Over 1 thousand 960 farmers (331
FHHs) covered 376 hectares of land in Ambasel woreda. 200 hectares of land has been covered
with mungbean, sesame, tomato and other fruits comprising 2 thousand 613 farmers (613 FHHS)
in Bati woreda. However, beneficiaries could earn very little due to the negative impact of El
Niño that drastically hammers the district alike other areas in the country.

12. In the same token, 10.5 quintals of Maize (BH 540), 55 quintals of Tef, 8 quintal of Mungbean,
76 quintal of chickpea, 60 quintal of onion, 315 k.g of carrot seed, 27 quintal of garlic, 964
mango, 2,934 orange, 537 avocado fruit seedlings has been delivered to 3,387 beneficiaries (276
FHHs) covering 487 hectares of land in Tehulederie woreda.
Semato watershed is among interventions of Harvest Plus. The project delivered farmers crop
varieties that are diseases resist, early maturing and better productive. Though unpredicted and
erratic rainfall collapsed the 2015/2016 production in different areas, Tehulederie has outshined
in clustering- a new initiative for better productivity. Kebeles of Jari 05, Gobeya 012, Hara 010,
Gedera 018 and Ketie 05 farmlands were amazingly covered by tef (cross 387/kuncho) and
maize (BH 540) improved crop varieties. Farmers expect better production this year than they
used to harvest before. The clustered land of tef has been looking like the sky is the limit.
Undoubtedly, intervention areas of Tehuledere woreda has escaped from drought that affected
diverse areas for the fact that Harvest Plus project delivered early maturing crop varieties.
A high yielding mungbean production in Chefa area

13. Farmers claimed before they got into production, they are given trainings on appropriate planting
season, input use, seeding rate, row seeding and pesticides management.
Farmer Mehammed Ali, a resident at Ketie 05 kebele Zebdeso village, is beneficiary of the
project since 2014. In 2015/16, the project supported him 6.25 kg maize and 5 kg tef. He
expected 5 and 8 quintals of maize and tef production respectively. Beneficiary farmers
witnessed those crop varieties are very much productive, disease tolerant and early-maturing
suited to a range of agro-ecosystems and farming practices and resilient to climate change. Most
importantly, the occurrence of inadequate and poorly distributed rainfall resulted in farmers to
face with harvests that are too small to both feed their families and fulfill their other
commitments. However, the communication and IT team of ORDA ensured the supply of
improved seeds benefited farmers in Tehuledere. Farmlands of tef are really eye-catching and the
project made a difference as compared to the local crops that are sparsely seen in some areas. It
is noted that Woreda Office of Agriculture takes many farmers and officers to share the project’s
achievement. Like other beneficiaries, farmer Mehammed is also member of "Nebro" village-
based loan and saving group. The group encompasses 20 households (10 FHHs) that members
saved 4 thousand birr since its onset.
W/ro Aminat Muhe is member of Ketie 05 kebele Semato Watershed. She gained surplus
production in 2014 from tomato, potato and cabbage. Farmer Aminat exclaimed she earned
money from a sale of her agricultural products over securing food of the family.

14. Moreover, Harvest Plus has given due attention on livestock rearing and fattening and climate
change resilient strategies to benefit smallholder agriculturalists and unemployed youths. The
project has brought solar lights in widely dispersed villages. They are also trained on how to save
money in village saving and loan group.
Young farmer Mehammed Yimam is also among beneficiaries of the project who is changing his
life rapidly. He owns a pair of oxen produces enough for the family and earns money from fruits
and vegetables. He said, “I’m on the move to build a resident/home at Hayk- the capital of the
district.”
The project delivered maize (BH 540) improved variety

15. We paused the same question whether they are committed to sustainably carryout developmental
activities after phasing out of the project. Farmers verified “ORDA and IIRR played a pivotal
role to improve our livelihood and it would be good if the project continued till we fully develop
our capacity. Nevertheless, we don’t refrain back even though it phased out. We are very much
curious to development.”
Finally, we departed after thanking and recommending beneficiaries to use/share better
agricultural technologies and experiences among themselves.

16. Community ponds opened the eyes of farmers!
There is a high temperature in the area. Crops like tef and mungbean are getting harvested and
threshed in the area. Farmers are distressed about the rainy season this year. Maize, pepper and
sorghum are looking immature. However, community ponds constructed in the area will sustain
the moisture of farmlands until it is matured.
ANRS Oromo Special zone contains 8 woredas. Dewa Chefa and Bati are two of the four
woredas of project interventions found in the zone. Dewa Chefa is distinct from others in that
Chefa Vally is potentially rich in underground water. The Organization for Rehabilitation and
Development in Amhara (ORDA) Harvest Plus project and International Institute of Rural
Reconstruction (IIRR) funded by SIDA carried out intervention activities to livelihood
improvement and overall transformation. The intervention of the project with a new agricultural
practice helped farmers, women and unemployed youths to be part of development actors
through better use of irrigation and agricultural related activities in the area. Community ponds
which opened the eyes of farmers are now extensively expanded.

17. Chefa valley is a fertile area which is very productive. However, due to absence of water,
farmers were not able to produce through irrigation. But now the project considerably changed
the area. The occurrence of erratic rainfall has left many areas without production in 2015/16.
Likewise, the majority of Dewa Chefa is strongly struck by El Niño. However, this is not a
serious problem to farmers of Chefa Valley (Kachur & Bilida kebeles). According to farmers
though the rain has stopped, water is easily pumped out from ponds to retain moisture for crops.
The project has a commendable achievement in getting farmers benefited from communal ponds.

18. Farmer Hussen Ibrahim is a married and father of five children. He lives in Dewa Chefa woreda
Kachur 07 Kebele. The communication team found him while he was exerting his energy on his
pepper farm. Farmer Hussen explained the support of ORDA and IIRR “we used to eat ‘shiro
wot’, but now we have started eating salad, tomato, cabbage and maize. We also used to buy
pepper. Now, we are producing it on irrigation. This year the rain was unsatisfactory but we can
see the fruit of our crops for the fact that we are pumping to water crops and thanks to Harvest
Plus who helped us built ponds.
The communication team was invited by farmers in the area to stay with farmer Ibrahim Seid. He
is a young, hard working and model farmer of Kachur kebele. He reminded the time and energy
he wasted for 4 years in Arab. Farmer Ibrahim came back to Ethiopia 2 years ago with his empty
hand. He said, “The area is potentially rich in resources, we own fertile land which easily grows
crops that we plant. It’s time to stop migration rather we are required to contribute on
development agendas. I’ve tested all the sufferings of life living abroad. Currently, I’m
committed for a change working day and night. I was a pioneer to build a pond in Kachur.
Surprisingly, the project came & supported me with an innovative communal pond. This time,
I’m producing better and changing my life through irrigation. Last year, I got 80 thousand birr

19. from garlic and 7 thousand birr from tomato production. Whereas, this year, I expect 180 birr
from garlic in half a hectare of rented land.”
Deputy & head of zonal agriculture of Oromo special zone administration, Ato Girma Bekele
disclosed ORDA & IIRR Harvest plus project has been carried out magnificent community
ponds in Dewa Chefa to boost agricultural productivity. We observed farmers’ awareness has
been increasing through time. They are digging and building ponds to harvest using irrigation. In
this case, Kachur kebele farmers are exemplary. Ato Girma claimed over 70 communal ponds
have been constructed potentially irrigating over 440 hectares of land.
In Kuchur and its surrounding, 10 communal ponds have been built by Harvest plus Project.
Each communal pond on average serves 10 farmers and potentially irrigates 6.3 ha of land.
Hence, farmers of Chefa Valley are now securing their families food. A visitor can assure how
farmers are getting benefited and owning assets far beyond food security.

20. Moreover, the project supported organized groups of jobless youths on income generation works.
Generally, ORDA Harvest Plus & IIRR helped25 youth groups which consisted a total of 345
members (of which 162 are female). Most of them are fully engaged in their work.
However, it’s observed that organized groups are loose and some are totally disintegrated.
Hence, much has to be done in order to build the attitude of youths and women. Organizing and
creating job for youths and women should not be left to the project only. It also requires vigorous
involvement of the government. Mainly, Office of Agriculture and Technical, Vocational and
Enterprises and woreda & zonal administrations should play their role to make them active
participants & beneficiaries of the overall regional development. It’s to be noted that the
assignment is to the respective concerned offices of each of the woredas for a sustained
development of the people as a whole.