The Consultative meeting on soil health and fertility stakeholders’ platform was organized by the MoA, GIZ and PELUM Ethiopia and held on 30 September 2021 at Saro Maria hotel in Addis Ababa. The stakeholders’ platform brought around 70 participants from partners and stakeholders i.e. officials, civil society organizations, research institutes, universities, regional bureaus of agriculture, different directorates of MoA, invited farmers, media and etc.
The purpose of the session was; to familiarize and create awareness on agriculture development- based agroecology, to update research findings on soil health and fertility, to share lessons among regions, on the implementation of new lime system in 2020/2021 and to provide recognition for partners working on soil health and fertility.
The session commenced with a welcoming address to the participants from the director of the soil fertility improvement directorate, Mr. Tefera Solomon, and was then officially opened with a speech from Mr. Mesele on behalf of H.E state minister Sani Redi, state minister of the ministry of agriculture and natural resources of Ethiopia. In his speech, he said that improving soil health and fertility are very useful to increase crop production and productivity by safeguarding the agro-biodiversity.
After the opening session, seven presentations were made. The first presentation was delivered by Dr. Hailu Araya, PELUM Ethiopia director, on the topic of familiarizing and awareness creation on agriculture development- based agroecology, basic principles and elements of agroecology, mentioned some good agro-ecological practices implemented at different parts of the country. The next presentation was by Ethiopian research institute, natural resource research sector director, Dr. Temesgen desalegn. His presentation focused on the current research findings on soil health and fertility in Ethiopia, Fertilizer use in Ethiopia. The third presentation was by the representatives of Mela organics, Mrs. Mahlet Tadesse and Mr. Melaku Tsega respectively. Their research findings and experimentation mainly focused on the importance hyacinth (enboch) in enhancing soil health and fertility. The fourth presentation was delivered by Tefera Solomon, director of soil fertility enhancement directorate. The focus of his presentation was on good practices of soil health and fertility enhancement technologies at federal level. The next and final three presentations were given by regional bureau of agricultures from three regions namely Oromia, Amhara and sidama. The presenters focused on the implementation of new lime system in 2020/2021and shared their lessons
One of the highlights of the stakeholders’ platform day was delivering testimonies on the experiences and successful implementation of agro-ecological based farming system and soil health and fertility enhancement practices done at the back yard by two exemplary farmers representing Oromia region.
In the afternoon, Discussion was held on the above seven presentations and testimonies given by farmers. After through discussions on issues raised on the presentations, the next and very important part of stakeholders’ platform day was providing recognition for partners working on soil health and fertility. The recognition program prepared for best performing partner organizations and regional bureau of agriculture as well as outstanding individual contributors. Accordingly, winners were as follows; Oromia Bureau of Agriculture awarded trophy for “best regional bureau agriculture implementing lime chain”; GIZ- awarded trophy for “best partner who supported integrated soil fertility management”; Mr. Stephensen, director of GIZ- awarded medal for “best performing individual from partners who helps the implementation of soil platform”; Mr. Elias Jouwar- awarded medal for “best performing individual from regional bureau who supports the expansion of newly adopted soil fertility enhancing technologies” and certificate of recognition was also goes to regional bureaus.
The stakeholders’ platform was clothed with the concluding remarks by H.E Mr. Sani Redi, state minister of the MoA. He commended the contribution of partners and stakeholders, research institutes and regional bureau of agriculture and expressed his strong believe that effort will be made to uphold and promote the good practices of regional bureaus and partners in improving Ethiopian agriculture in general and soil health and fertility in specific.