1) FAO implemented a project to distribute fertilizer and seeds to smallholder farmers in Tigray to enhance food security. A monitoring visit found the distribution of 8,563 tons of fertilizer and seeds to 197,020 households was underway. 2) Most beneficiaries were satisfied with the inputs but felt fertilizer quantities were insufficient. Complaint mechanisms were established but communities lacked awareness of them. Extension services were limited. 3) Recommendations included strengthening woreda BOA engagement, assessing whether input amounts could increase based on land size, building complaint committee capacity, and providing needs-based extension services.

1. BACK TO OFFICE REPORT
Approving officers Nigist Haile, Coordinator-Tigray Field Office riz
Reporting Officer
Haftu Halefom, National M&E Expert
Mission Dates October 19 to November 10, 2023
Region/Woreda visited
Southern zone Woredas -Raya Azebo, Raya Cherccher, Neksege, Alaje, Selewa, Bora and Seharti.
Date of report 27 November 2023
Purpose of the visit: The mission aims to oversee and verify beneficiary registration, compliance hearings, and Agri input (Fertilizer
& Vegetable seeds) distribution in the south and southeast regions of seven project-supported woredas in Tigray.
1. Background:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Ethiopia in collaboration with the Tigray Regional Bureau of Agriculture and
Rural Development is implementing a project "OSRO|ETH|219|USA" to conflict-affected farming households in Tigray, funded by USAID.
FAO Ethiopia has implemented a project to restore agricultural production in the region and contribute to the 2023 irrigation season response by
distributing fertilizers and improved seeds to smallholder farmer households in the region, thus contributing to household food and nutrition
security. By providing quality agriculture inputs, such as improved seeds and fertilizers, the projects also aimed to enhance the awareness,
knowledge, and capacity of targeted beneficiaries on good agronomic practices, fertilizer utilization and post-harvest management.
FAO in collaboration with the BOA had planned to distribute 8,563 tons of fertilizer and vegetable seeds to 197,020 conflict-affected
smallholder-farming households during the upcoming irrigation season. FAO have signed a Letter of Agreement with the Tigray Bureau of
Agriculture to support beneficiary selection, registration, and training.
To that end, RO and BOA staff undertook a field monitoring visit from October 19 to November 10, 2023, in the Southern (Raya Azebo,
Chercher, Neksege, Bora, Selewa, and Alaje) and Southeast (Seharti) zones to supervise beneficiary registration and verification, check for the
existence of complaint and feedback mechanisms, and monitor the distribution of agricultural inputs. In addition, provide an overview of the
number of households that received fertilizer and vegetable seeds, broken down by woreda, gender, and Tabia.

2. 2. Key Findings
1. Meeting with Woreda and Kebelle Structures
Upon arrival of the joint BOA and FAO monitoring team, meetings were held with woreda agriculture sector heads, administrators, and staff.
Regional BOA colleagues provided an overview of the project, target HHs, selection criteria, and distribution procedure. Additionally, we asked
the Woreda and Kebelle BOA staff members to share with us the specific schedules for beneficiary selection and input distribution, and they did
with each distribution plan and allowing us to monitor and supervise the distribution process.
2. Beneficiary selection criteria and process
The beneficiary targeting and registration started with community sensitizations for beneficiary targeting. Before the distribution, beneficiary
verification exercises were conducted by FAO staff members and BOA regional staff for each kebele to make sure the proposed household met
the criteria.
FGD findings with beneficiaries in almost all woredas reveal that beneficiaries were aware of the beneficiary selection criteria. According to
them, the DAs in their respective Kebelles provided detailed information about the project beneficiary selection criteria, package amounts per
household, and the organization that provides the inputs. And they found to specify all the selection criteria; though, some beneficiaries did not
know if they were selected for vegetable seeds because it does not cover all fertilizer beneficiaries. Most Woredas' FGD participants noted access
to irrigation, women-headed households, and vulnerable households, whereas one woreda's (Selewa) FGD discussant mentioned some unfair
ways to select beneficiaries due to personal connections. Even though it was agreed that the selection criteria should be based on vulnerability
criteria such as female headed HHs, HHs with special needs and chronically ill, HHs severely affected by the conflict, and ultra poor HHs who
cannot afford the cost of agricultural inputs, FGD discussants in Selewa woreda reveal that those selection criteria receive little attention by
beneficiary selection committees. For example, following the beneficiary verification procedure, which was carried out by a joint monitoring
team of FAO and BOA regional offices, it was found that beneficiaries were chosen based on personal relationships with the beneficiary's
selection committees. As a result, the team decided to reselect beneficiaries in a more transparent and consistent manner based on the stated
selection criteria. The FGD discussants in Selewa confirmed a participatory beneficiary selection process and expressed gratitude to FAO for
enabling vulnerable households to access agricultural inputs after verification exercise. Besides, the KII stated that one of the primary selection
criteria for kebelles was access to potential irrigation land and the vulnerability status of the household. As a result, kebelles with a high
proportion of vulnerable households and those severely affected by the conflict, besides those with irrigation potential, were given priority. The
KII interview revealed that priority was given to women-headed households and community members with irrigation access and ready for
plantation, like the FGD. Those HHs who do not have access to irrigation and are better off weren't eligible for this assistance.

3. The majority of FGD participants reported the establishment of a community-based beneficiary selection committee, which they appreciate the
most, in contrast to previous times when beneficiaries were selected by PSNP beneficiary selection committee, which was characterized by
biased and unfair treatment of beneficiaries. The committee currently consists of (elders, religious leaders, women, and representatives from
water users’ associations). However, in some woredas, such as Bora, the previously established committee was still in place, and the FGD
discussants beneficiaries got information about the distribution very late (the day before or the same day as the distribution, or even no
information at all in some instances).
It was observed that the woreda level BOA's involvement in the beneficiary selection and mobilization process, registration, and input
distribution was poor (especially in some woredas including Raya Chercher and Selewa Woredas). This led to delays in the planned input
distribution and a low sense of project ownership among the local government.
3. Distribution of the Agricultural inputs
The table below shows the woredas' current distribution status. The irrigation beneficiaries in every woreda have received 100% of the
input, except for chercher, which received extra fertilizer, which has also reached all beneficiaries.
Zone Woreda HHs reached by input Type
Total HHs
reached
Remark
1. Onion=500g
2. Tomato=25g
3. NPS=25KG
4. UREA=25KG
1. Tomato=25g
2. NPS=25KG
3. UREA=25KG
1 . NPS=25KG
2.UREA=25K G
1.UREA=25K
G
Southern
Chercher 1980 1958 6475 0 10413
Some fertilizer left
Raya Azebo 934 1267 6599 2750 11550 100%
Neksege 296 387 357 360 1400 100%
Alaje 800 1192 688 776 3456 100%
Bora 640 980 700 800 3120 100%
Selewa 160 190 1410 376 2136 100%
Sub Total
Southern 4810 5974 16229 5062 32075
Southeaster
n Seharti 756 1087 1885 1392 5120 100%
Grand
Total 5566 7061 18114 6454 37195

4. 3.1. Perception on the type of inputs
FGD participants generally expressed their satisfaction with agricultural inputs provided by the organization. One of the FGD discussants at Bora
Woreda stated that FAO is preventing at least 4000-birr cost per household for the purchase of fertilizer and seed for the irrigation season; this is
a significant contribution, especially for those who could have purchased the inputs by selling productive assets such as livestock and grain
stocks.
The quality of the fertilizer was very much appreciated, while the quantity of fertilizer provided per household was deemed insufficient by most
of the FGD beneficiaries especially in the lowlands areas since their land size is bigger. Likewise, the vegetable seeds especially onion was
deemed as a good in quality in most of the woredas whereas the quality of seed for tomato was not among the preferred once in the lowland areas
of Southern Tigray (Raya Chercher and Raya Azebo). Accordingly, the preferred tomato seed varieties in both woredas are Gelila and then
Venus which are hybrid seed varieties even though FAO provided a Roma VF type of seed. Likewise, FAO provided Bombay Red onions, but
they preferred hybrid seeds such as red couch and rosttle type of varieties. According to the FGD participants in Raya Azebo and Raya Chercher
the average land size is .75 ha which is .5ha bigger than the received amount of fertilizer and seed. They therefore suggested using land size-
based packaging to help them achieve their needs and be more effective.
3.2. Timeliness
According to the FGD and KII, the fertilizer arrived on time for the first cycle irrigation season, but the vegetable seeds for the same cycle
had to come earlier than August because most of the farmers had already used their own seeds for the first cycle irrigation and planned to use
the provided seeds for the second cycle irrigation season, which will begin in January.
3.3. Time-spent on the distribution
The travel distance to the distribution place varies from woreda to woreda and from Kebelle to Kebelle, according to the FGD discussants. Some
woredas, like Raya Azebo, might just need to travel for an hour and a half to get to the distribution site. whereas recipients in woredas such as
Bora and Raya Chercher must commute three hours to get to the distribution point. When asked how long beneficiaries had to wait at cash
distribution points, for example, the FGD participants in Raya Azebo and Alaje Woreda said that because so many beneficiaries are invited to the
distribution center each day, they sometimes have to wait up to two or three hours at the agricultural input distribution points. Moreover, security
issues in woredas like Raya Chercher were a significant concern for HHs from Tigray's inaccessible kebelles, who raised concerns when
returning home with fertilizer.
3.4. Utilization

5. Participants in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) indicated that while fertilizer can be utilized for the current irrigation season, vegetable seeds
will be used for the upcoming second irrigation season, which begins in January.
3.5.Complains and Feedback Mechanisms
Complaints mechanisms were established in most of the project woredas. However, a system for routinely recording and responding to concerns
was missing. The team was unable to see the established compliant committee while hearing and managing complaints, even though the kebele
level structure confirmed the presence of the compliant hearing and responding committee at the kebele level. Furthermore, the Kebelles often
select the beneficiaries using the old PSNP beneficiary selection committee structure, requiring for some capacity building on beneficiary
selection and targeting.
Furthermore, it was noted that HHs had very little knowledge of complaint and feedback procedures, barely knew where to direct their
complaints, and had little awareness that these channels even existed. However, we suggested that the woreda BOA experts to inform the
beneficiaries of the FAO's free hotline, 7333, which allows them to directly report complaints and feedback. The beneficiaries were given this
information, along with other basic project information, during the distribution time.
4. Extension
Post-conflict extension and training services were deemed insufficient by KII and FGD discussants, but pre-war extension services helped current
agricultural practices. But, during distribution, BOA and FAO experts provided advice about fertilizer usage. In general, farmers are not
receiving the intended advisory and extension services by the extension workers. Key informants proposed that providing counselling services to
extension workers at the woreda and kebele levels would be beneficial in encouraging them to revert to their previous extension activities. FGD
participants in different woredas frequently mention utilizing demonstrations, farmer field days and experience sharing and expert trainings as
effective extension methods.
5. Support provided by others (NGOs or Government)
The AGP project, which is implemented by the regional office of agriculture, was the only organization to supply agricultural inputs in a single
woreda chercher. It delivered chickpea seeds. The KII stated that even though the region still needs agricultural inputs and is currently severely
affected by the drought, particularly in the Southern Zone's lowlands, NGOs and the government were paying little attention to providing these
inputs, particularly the provision of early-maturing seeds like chickpea, despite the community's demand for them.
6. 2023 Meher Crop production Outlook
The crop production season has failed in many areas, particularly Raya Chercher and Raya Azebo, due to the exceptionally weak Meher rains.
Very few long-cycle meher crops, including high-yielding sorghum and maize, have been planted. The team observed the low crop performance
in the lowland areas during the field mission. Some farmers gave up planting their fields because of the

6. drought, while others were seen feeding their cattle the fresh leaves of their crops. The agriculture sector faces major challenges including drought
in lowland woredas, unseasonal rainfall impacting productivity, and crop disease like pulses disease and pest in highland areas.
7. Conclusion
The distribution process was successful, and beneficiaries were satisfied with the agricultural inputs provided, despite some ownership and
involvement issues on the BOA side. In addition, the presence and backing of the FAO throughout the distribution process was important. Some
recommendations are provided considering the FGD results, and the information gathered from key informant interviews with woreda experts.
8. Key issues and Recommendations
Issues
Recommendations Management
Response
Weak engagement by Kebelle/Woreda BOA
in the distribution process
The findings revealed that though FAO participation in the process was important, the BOA's
ownership and engagement at the woreda level was found to be minimal. As a result, in
accordance with the agreed LOA, BOA as the implementing organization shall assume
primary ownership and responsibility for implementing FAO-funded projects in the future.
Issues with input amount
According to the results of the FGDs, Raya Chercher and Raya Azebo, the beneficiaries, were
not satisfied with the quantity of inputs they receive and are asking for an increase. Therefore,
further assessment needs to be conducted to figure out whether increasing the input per HH is
operationally feasible.
Compliance and feedback mechanism
Although a compliant handling system has been put in place, communities still need to be
made aware of their rights to submit complaints and the options available for giving feedback.
Moreover, the complaint hearing committee was found to be unfunctional, suggesting the
need for capacity building training to the committee members.

7. Poor Extension and Advisory services FGD participants reported limited technical support for fertilizer and seed distribution during
planting season, urging extension workers to offer agronomic practices and extension
services to HHs.
Need based support
A needs assessment is conducted to determine land sizes and desired inputs, allowing for
adaptation of woreda level agricultural input distribution to suit local preferences.