After participating the three day international meeting organized by AFSA (Alliance For Food Sovereignty) from 14-16 September, 2022 in Addis Ababa, more than 40 meeting participants representing 13 African countries, Spain, France, Sweden and India have had the opportunity to visit the Agro-ecology site at Lode Hitosa woreda of Arsi Zone implemented by our member organization Best Practice Association (BPA).
The visiting program was organized by PELUM Ethiopia in collaboration with BPA and held on 17 September, 2022. The full day program consist different sessions. On their arrival, the participants welcomed by Woreda Administrator, district cabinet members, elders and the local community from three kebeles. The first session was visiting farmer-led wheat experimentation with different treatments located at the outskirts of Huruta town. The next session was visiting some exemplary agro-ecological farming households based in two kebeles namely, Ademere and Gerdebusa. The participants were divided in to two groups and visited four households at each kebeles. During the visit, participants forwarded questions and reflections on what they have witnessed.
The next main event of the visiting program was cultural, seed and food fair, organized and financed by PELUM Ethiopia, Woreda Tourism Bureau and the community from the three Kebeles. More than 60 Different kinds of local foods and drinks were displayed. The seed and food fair was officially opened by elders’ ritual. On the occasion, the participants were briefed by the event organizers on the cultural food fair and the existing developmental works.
The participants appreciated the presentation and thanked PELUM Ethiopia for organizing such valuable experience and are highly touched by the local communities’ commitment for displaying their cultural heritages as well as providing the local foods and drinks which are highly regarded by Oromo people and other ethnics.
The program was very successful and PELUM encouraged to work closely with local administration and grass-root communities and promised organizing more fairs in order to contributing its share in impacting the food system of the country in specific and the continent in general in the near future.