Transforming Landscapes and Soil Health for Increased Agricultural Productivity: Experience from Ethiopia by Prof. Tekalign Mamo

April 24, 2015 | 13:30 h - 14:30 h

ZEF is pleased to invite you to our next public lecture on

Transforming  Landscapes and Soil Health for Increased Agricultural Productivity: Experience from Ethiopia by

Prof. Tekalign Mamo (Minister's Advisor & State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia)

Date: Friday, April 24, 2015, 13:30-14:30 h

Venue: right conference room, ZEF, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 53113 Bonn

Abstract:

Ethiopia is a land locked country and second most populous African nation. Agriculture is the main driver of the economy that also contributes to about 60 percent to the total export. Although the majority of the population is engaged in farming, productivity rates have been very low, mainly due to factors such as severe land degradation, low technological inputs, poor soil fertility, weak institutions, and lack of sound agricultural policies and strategies. However, during the past decade and half, the country has continuously increased its agricultural production and productivity owing to the range of policy actions and key interventions made by the government. In order to arrest land degradation, since 2005, the country has been implementing a community based watershed development strategy that contributed to the rehabilitation of more than 15 M hectares and ecosystem health. Other key soil productivity related interventions currently being scaled up also include improved drainage of vast areas of waterlogged soils (Vertisols), reclamation of acid soils and strengthening use of compost. In order to improve its fertilizer advisory service, Ethiopia has also launched in 2011, a national soil fertility mapping initiative that so far accomplished mapping in more than 390 administrative districts or ''woredas''. While the mapping effort will continue targeting additional areas, based on the information generated, blended fertilizers were also recommended and introduced by district. At the same time, it is establishing fertilizer blending plants in strategic locations. It is expected that from the wider implementation of the key interventions by farmers, Ethiopia will continue to register increased agricultural production and productivity in the years to come. The presentation will highlight major features in the mentioned topics and also summarize key challenges, major lessons learnt and the way forward, including areas of collaboration with Center for Development Research, University of Bonn and other stakeholders.

About the speaker:

Professor Tekalign Mamo has been engaged through his recommendations and leadership in several initiatives on soil fertility, addressing both acidic soils and nutrient deficiencies. In 2014, he received the <link http: www.yara.com>Yara Prize awarding outstanding contributions to African agriculture. Professor Mamo’s achievements have also made him one of 13 CGIAR/CCAFS <link http: ccafs.cgiar.org commission>Global Commissioners for Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. He serves as one of 27 leading global experts in the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils of <link http: www.fao.org globalsoilpartnership intergovernmental-technical-panel-on-soils en>FAO’s Global Soil Partnership.