Project News

Ms Birke, aged 42 years old is one of those farmers who have been working with Ethio-SHEP project since pilot phase 2016 in Oromia Region. She lives in Kubate lita village in Digalu Tijo woreda of Arsi zone. As a widow, she is head of the household which has 3 family members. Farming is the main source of income for her household, particularly producing wheat which is dominant crop for majority of farmers in the area.

In 2016, as one of the representative farmers for her group she participated in market survey conducted in nearby market, Sagure. According to her, "That was very important experience which motivated her to consider Garlic as one of the crops which can give better income for the family", and continued "I never planted Garlic before, but after joining this project with technical support from the project on production techniques now I am producing Garlic and as a result, there is significant change in my life. I constructed new house, bought one hybrid cow for my family, and cover my children's school expense and now am in much better position to lead my family."

Hybrid cow of Ms.Birke

New house of Ms.Birke

Mr Girma, 36 years old farmer currently living in Sagure town, Digalu Tijo woreda Arsi zone, Oromia region. He started working with project since pilot phase in 2016 by participating in market survey in Sagure market as one of the representative farmers. After Market survey the group selected Garlic as priority crop and he started Garlic production in addition to wheat which is the main crop that farmers produce in the area for consumption and as source of income.

He said "After staring Garlic production with technical support from project, my income has increased significantly and as a result now I am in a much better condition economically. When I was selected as a farmer to work with the project, I was living with my parents in small village called Kubate Lita . When my income increased as a result of Garlic production, I moved with my family to the town (Sagure) by constructing my own residential house with estimated cost of more than 200,000 Birr(approximately US$7,400). I also opened medium grocery (with about 100,000 Birr initial capital) and diversified my source of income. However, I did not abandon my previous village completely, my parents are still there, I also visit the area frequently and still producing Garlic in my land. To facilitate easy movement between my new house in town and my Garlic production area, I bought a motor bike for transportation. I also bought one hybrid cow for my family with 35,000 Birr".

The project team found that one of the target farmer introduced Bio-gas into the farmer's house and one of the farmer set the solar panel. These stories motivate the CPs and project team a lot!

Garlic farm

New motor bike

Mr Girma's Grocery in Sagure town