Tamirat Debebe
To eke out a living the majority of Ethiopian farmers and pastoralists heavily lean on water from the sky. Last year after tilling their farming plots, readying best seeds and rolling up sleeves farmers were waiting for the much looked-forward rain in vain.
The rain was tardy in coming due to El Nino-induced problem. Similarly pastoralists were scanning the sky for rain that helps to sustain the lives of their animals.
Though in some lowland areas farmers had tried to sow seeds their labour could not bear fruits, for the rain that belatedly came was not sufficient enough. In the pastoral community the drought has claimed a heavy death toll on animals.
In areas where drought surfaced, the government has taken preventive actions to avert human causality. Supplying water and fodders, it as well had managed to scale down the sever impact the drought was threatening to inflict on animals.
It is known that the National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission had disclosed that 10.2 million people are in urgent need of food aid.
It noted 1.4 billion US dollar is needed to cushion the impact of the drought. The government out laying over six billion birr was doing its best to ensure no harm falls on citizens. It has been unwavering doling out wheat, nutritious foods and oil to victims of the drought.
In addition to the contingency budget put aside for times of emergency the House of Peoples’ Representatives has approved 14.78 billion birr budget recently.
Journalistists had visited drought affected areas in Afar, Tigray and Amhara states. They had got first-hand knowledge about the impact of the drought and how the government sought a remedial solution to the problem.
They had observed shortage of food, water and fodders as the attendant ills of the drought, the tight grip of which the government is trying to loosen with a timely supply of the aforementioned requirements. They have found the timely rescuing action of the government is laudable.
But questions worth raising here are: What actions should be taken till the problem is fully resolved? and What long-term strategies should be put in place to make the recurrent drought that affects the country a thing of the past?
Researcher and Instructor of Hydraulics Engineering at Arba Minch University Dr. Engineer Abdela Kemal has this to say; “Ethiopia is blessed with both surface and underground water resources that could render it a land which must not give hand to drought!
The effort the country has embarked on recently towards the exploitation of this resource is worthy of appreciation. Yet for want of a footwork designed in advance to fully avert such impacts the drought is allowed to persist.” Ethiopia has 124 billion cubic meter underground water, capable of generating 45 thousand mega watt electricity and irrigating 3.8 million hectare of land. In light of the wealth the country has, what has been devoted for irrigation development pales in to insignificance.”
Ethiopia has 2.9 billion cubic meter underground water. It is possible to use this water in areas suffering from erratic rainfall and where there is no underground water reserves.
Though initial exercises are under way, they could not rise up to the extent needed. He also underlines when a heavy rain occurs there is a need for harvesting and reserving water for bad days.
According to Dr. Engineer Abedela, given the water wealth the country is endowed with, pursuing the green resilient economy set in motion, expanding large-scale irrigation farming and effectively utilizing surface and underground water are viable ways out. In this regard higher learning institutions are expected to come up with drought-resistant technologies and strategies.
Instructor at Makalle University, Institute of Climate and Society, Dr. Amanuel Zenebe notes; “Climate change is creating earthquake, over flooding and other problems. Ethiopia too has fallen prey to the problem time and again.
Scientific studies indicate such a problem is predicted to occur worldwide. Facts on the ground indicate that armed in advance it is possible to parry consequences. For lack of viable preventive measures in Ethiopia in the past, drought was inflicting damage on the country. But currently thanks to such preparedness cushioning the impact is made possible.
Though the short-term solution has proved successful there is a call for rooting the problem out.” If Ethiopia inexorably pursues the green resilient economy there is no doubt that it could withstand and reduce the impact of drought.
Since the past years the country’s soil protection activity has improved. The same trend proves true to its water resources. But still there is a call for path-breaking ways.
Citizens engaged in the forestation work must check not only how many plant seedlings are planted but how many of them grew up. It is this way the already started development endeavour proves a hit. Fencing off green areas too is mandatory.
To well manage the impacts of drought introducing insurance in the agriculture sector must be made a point. Above all, the people across the globe have to work hand in gloves to contain the impacts of climate change.
As it is known the Current El Nino-induced drought is spelling a big difficulty in Ethiopia. This global climactic event has left millions of Ethiopians in need of emergency food assistance. Since early, the government is exerting utmost effort to resist the drought with all possible means.
The government swiftly responds to the situation. It is also coordinating the resources and logistics garnered from home and international organizations and partners’ to reach out the needy citizens.
The fast response and coordinated intervention has enabled the nation to cop up the harshness of the drought. Whatever the drought is costly, it would not be beyond Ethiopia’s control. In its response the government of Ethiopia is distributing millions of tons of wheat to the needy.
Along with the emergency food assistance, the government is distributing nutritious food for children, supplying water to the areas affected by the drought using water trucks and supplying animal feed to mitigate the effect of the drought on animals.
The fast response and coordination displayed by the government has spawned a global humanitarian response. In fact at the beginning the support of international donors was sluggish and their reaction currently displayed is supportive.
While providing the emergency support, the government is doing commendable job to reduce the burden of the drought. Efforts are underway at all levels to prevent damages to crops due to non seasonal rainfall.
The government has taken natural resource conservation seriously to address the periodical drought problem. In areas where such natural resource conservation carried out people can reduce the devastating impact of the drought. With this notion, the government has launched nationwide conservation campaign with amass public engagement.
Even so, to compensate the loss by El Niño-caused drought much focused is given to enhance the irrigation schemes and exploit the water bodies as much as possible. Some 1.6 million of hectares of land has been covered by various crops using irrigation development.
Besides, farmers and pastoralists, agriculture professionals and leaders at all levels are exerting effort to harness potential areas for irrigation development. Farmers and pastoralists are sowing fast growing crops to boost the production in short possible time.
The government sets to harvest four million quintals of crops from 2.4 million hectares of land through irrigation in the second Growth and Transformation Plan, according to the ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource Development.
Efforts are underway to ensure fast and sustainable agricultural development for basic economic transformation. For this to happen, the agricultural sector continues to be a source of economic growth in the second Growth and Transformation Plan. Therefore, all the intervention should go forward to boost the agricultural production and productivity even in this demanding situation.
On field visit in productive areas, it is witnessed that applying fertilizers, select seeds and other agricultural technologies have helped to harvest more yield to compensate the lost production in drought affected areas. Government has put direction for agriculture professionals to assist closely farmers for better production.
Allocation of huge budget, aggressive response and coordinated engagement in the relief efforts has attracted considerable helping hands. Though, the support of the international community is felt but not good enough response to the situation. More donor countries and organizations are handing out and expressing their conviction to continue their support to the government.
Beyond the support, the appreciation and the confidence the international community build on the Ethiopia’s government readiness and fast response to deal the drought problems has given impetus to government’s efforts. As the international organization described government reaction to the situation as “The leadership and commitment of the government in driving this response has been exceptional “.
For enhanced effort, the government of Ethiopia has recently released a national Emergency Operational Plan for drought response in 2016. The plan lists out response plans per sector to be identified in the 2016 Humanitarian Requirements Document. The plan has also differentiated the role and responsibilities of the government, UN and NGOs.
The government calls for additional support to cover relief food needs to people affected by the drought until the end of the year. The brief plan demonstrates government’s readiness and stern commitment to swift respond to the crisis on the ground.
To mention the recent support, FAO announced that it has allocated 50 million USD for emergency support and mitigation plan aimed at boosting the income for 1.8 million farmers and pastoralists in drought affected areas. The finance would help to provide seeds and fodder, sheep and goats, as well as vet vaccination, develop small irrigation schemes and backyard.
Hopefully, the ongoing government’s efforts and management of resource with the tangible support from the international community, the nation will mitigate the worst of El Nino’s effect.
Above all, the responses from various segments of the society in the country and abroad are encouraging. Along with provisions of relief assistance active engagement of the public in natural resource conservation and irrigation development endeavors are vital in addressing the burdens of the drought in a sustainable manner. The ongoing well-coordinated response must be maintained until things get normalcy. It is obvious the drought caused big trouble but it is manageable.
Given the urgency of the situation, all the citizens and leaders at all levels should join hands to pass this hard time with all the resources at hand. Helping hands will help the government to address the drought in a sustainable manner. Therefore, far more is needed from partners, donors and UN agencies.
The failed spring rains in Ethiopia last year caused significant impacts for planting and livestock production across the country and inevitably increased food insecurity and malnutrition in some parts of the Country.
This was rapidly followed by the arrival of the on-going El Niño weather phenomenon in June that affected the rainfall pattern of the summer rains that normally provides much of the country’s agriculture harvest and its potable water.
The combination resulted in the onset of efforts of mitigating the drought. Currently it is estimated that close to 8.2 million people are in need of food aid as a result of these conditions.
It was in response to such El Nino-induced drought that the Government, recognizing the increased needs, initiated extensive internal response as well as calling for international assistance and for this to continue well into 2016.
The Government is making every effort to mitigate the effect of the El Nino phenomenon and is continuing to do everything possible to make sure people are protected from the worst effects of this environment-related crisis.
In addition to the continuous provision of both food aid, including special supplements for the malnourished, and water to affected areas, the Government has issued international tenders to purchase nearly a million tons for wheat to ensure food supplies will continue to be available. Further tenders will be issued as necessary.
It has also called for international assistance in help those currently in need of food aid. The Government has been working intensively to minimize the impact of the drought and remains determined and committed to ensure that there will be no loss of life from the drought.
The monthly report of the Famine Early Warning Systems Network makes it clear that the ongoing El Nino, following from the already existing drought, led to below average ‘Meher’ harvests in most eastern cropping areas.
It has also contributed to massive livestock deaths, poor livestock body conditions and very low livestock production in Afar and northern parts of Somali Region.
The report concluded that the most acutely affected areas were Southern Afar and Sitti Zone in Somali State and the agricultural lowlands of East and West Hararghe zones in Oromia.
The result is that “between January and March 2016, large populations in the east of the country will experience very significant food consumption gaps.”
The report also notes that larger areas of Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Oromia, Somali and the SNNPS will remain in difficulty through at least March 2016 and emergency food assistance will be required to protect household food consumption.
Overall, the Meher harvest production was well below average with up to 75 per cent loses in the worst affected lowland areas. By contrast, most of the west of the country has seen average agricultural production in 2015, and as rainfall performance has been much better across much of the west and south west near normal harvests are expected for the current season.
The report notes that the cumulative amount of rainfall in November and December was above average in most parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ State, and although some of this was unseasonable for some areas, it also favoured planting of some crops. Harvesting of some late-planted crops is expected to continue in January in the SNNPS though most of the Meher crops have been harvested.
Inevitably, prices for most food commodities in eastern areas are higher than in same period last year, but following the required intervention, nutritional conditions in October showed a slight improvement compared to September in most parts of Amhara, Oromia and SNNPS.
The number of malnourished children admitted to the Therapeutic Feeding Programme in the SNNPR in October, for example, fell by 27 per cent from the previous month, and the figure for East Hararghe showed a fall of 41 per cent.
The report includes projections for the next three months, noting that the below average agricultural production agricultural areas of Eastern Amhara, Tigray, Central and Eastern Oromia, and the Rift Valley areas of SNNPR will continue to limit household food availability as well as restrict livestock sales and agricultural work opportunities, limiting incomes and capacity to purchase.
This means households in these areas will need assistance to meet minimal basic food needs through at least March 2016. The lowlands of East and West Hararghe zones have been particularly badly hit, as have the pastoral areas of Afar and Shinile Zone of the northern Somali State.
Cereal prices are likely to rise in January due to low production in some of the eastern parts of the country and the possibility for work income is likely to remain very low during the dry season and until March.
The situation in southern and south-eastern pastoral areas (southern Somali State, southern Oromia and the lowlands in South Omo Zone in the SNNPS) are slightly better following some flooding in October in specific areas.
Areas that experienced less flooding had good seasonal rainfall for the last three consecutive seasons, contributing to good crop and livestock production.
In addition, most of the west of the country has seen average agricultural production in 2015, and in the higher lands of the SNNPS, in Western Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and much of Benshangul-Gumuz and Gambella, the harvest obtained from the Meher season is likely to meet the food consumption requirements of most households through March 2016.
It is dare to say the fast response and coordination displayed by the government is commendable. Following this, the reaction coming from the public is also encouraging.
While offering food aid and health care services to the people affected by the El Nino weather phenomena, concerted efforts are underway at all levels to prevent damages to crops due to irregular rainfall.
Beyond the support, the appreciation and the confidence the international community build on the Ethiopia’s government readiness and fast response to deal the drought problems will, for sure, have positive impact in tackling the situation.
Actually, the ability the nation build its resistance capacity to stand firm against the effect of the drought has been strengthened in time. This is why many have been convinced that Ethiopia is in a position to address the problems of the drought.
In his reflection, the UNOCHA Head Paul Handley said “The leadership and commitment of the government in driving this response has been exceptional”.
The World Food Programme (WFP) Acting Country Director Samir Wanmali has also shared this stance. He said Ethiopia today is by far changed from the past. “Ethiopia has a robust disaster risk management system in place to respond to the needs of its people,” he noted.
Hopefully, it said with the government’s leadership and support from the international community, Ethiopia will mitigate the worst of El Nino’s effect. To this end, the international donors have also been mobilizing resources to fill critical funding gaps and support government response efforts.
With no doubt, to address the periodical drought problem effectively, the effort to conserve natural resource must be intensified. Besides, exerting efforts to sustain the double digit growth and speed up the transformation will certainly be the ultimate solutions to eliminate the burden of the drought.
Nonetheless, for the immediate response for El Niño caused drought enhancing the irrigation schemes and exploiting the water bodies so as to boost the agriculture productivity and production are vital.
It is lurid, indeed, there is a fear that the number of drought affected people will continue to grow.
Thus, the support coming from the international community significantly helps curtail the problem. As the problems may continue for quite some time concerted effort is badly require to resist the long effect of the drought.
Above all, the responses from various segments of the society in the country are encouraging. Active engagement of the public in dealing this timely situation would give impetus the synergy that the government has been through to avert the looming situation.
The ongoing well-coordinated response is already underway and must be expanded rapidly to drought prone areas to hold back its effects to the grave blow that turns itself into hunger.
All the citizens should join hands and come forward to tackle the problem posed by the drought. The efforts citizens are employing in this hard time is impressive and more intensified support is anticipated.
Propelling the situation, the government and partners are endeavoring to further identify the most urgent needs for the coming months. Thus, much more support is urgently needed, as more helping hands give synergy to the effort the nation exerting to mitigate the drought.
These endeavors are on-going. Despite their achievements, they cannot eliminate the impact of the worst drought of the century.
Therefore, relief aid provision is necessary. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the number of drought affected people and the scale of its effect has been minimized due to the efforts made in the last decade.
The drought situation in Ethiopia should not be left to the government alone. Considerate Ethiopian individuals and stake holders should be involved in mitigating the situation.
It is a matter of coordination, I think. For example, the government can take the lead by one of its branch office, Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Office, in establishing a National Ad hoc Committee, which comprise prominent public figures from within the ruling party, opposition parties, civic societies, religious groups and renowned individuals.
The country has a good track record in forming such an ad hoc committee. One example to sight is the Millennium National Committee formed for the anniversary a decade ago.
The purpose of this committee is to subscribe pledges from within Ethiopia and Ethiopian Diaspora in the name of the drought stricken areas.
The current drought situation in Ethiopia should be addressed in timely fashion, in an orderly manner and in a concerted effort.
There is an Ethiopian proverb which fits to the point in discussion and it goes “fifty lemons are a load to an individual but a fragrant odor to fifty individuals.”
If we are to save the lives of the millions who are at the brink of drought disaster, we must pull our efforts, wealth, energy, and time together to defeat the evil enemy El Nino.