A meeting of Regional Administrators is taking place in Mendefera town under the chairmanship of President Isaias Afwerki. In the first agenda item, the meeting heard report presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, regarding the accomplishments registered in efforts to achieve food security and preliminary assessment of crop harvest for 2010, as well as future agricultural programs. It subsequently conducted extensive discussion on the report presented.
Mendefera, 15 September 2010 – A meeting of Regional Administrators is taking place in Mendefera town under the chairmanship of President Isaias Afwerki.
In the first agenda item, the meeting heard report presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, regarding the accomplishments registered in efforts to achieve food security and preliminary assessment of crop harvest for 2010, as well as future agricultural programs. It subsequently conducted extensive discussion on the report presented.
In his report, Mr. Arefaine explained that good Azmera rains showered in March but were on small scale in the months of April and May. However, there existed good summer rains in most parts of the country that began in June and continued with satisfactory pattern in July and August. He went on to say that about 455,000 hectares were put under cultivation on time and the necessary inputs made available across the nation on time thanks to the advanced preparations conducted through the joint collaboration of the general public and government institutions. As a result of such coordinated endeavors, crop cultivation is in good condition in most parts of the country, the Minister added. In this connection, Mr. Arefaine indicated that effective measures are being taken to control the incidence of locust swarm and pests. He further pointed out that rangelands and livestock are in good condition, which in turn would enhance animal fertility rate. The Minister also stated that there are 70 stations in all sub-zones catering to animal health.
As regards future agricultural programs, Mr. Arefaine underlined the need to undertake continued follow up activities in farmlands and ensure proper crop harvesting on time, as well as store animal feed and reserve seeds for future use.
Following deliberations on Mr. Arefaine’s report, the meeting conducted discussion on the report presented by each regional administration that mainly focused on the progress made in the implementation of the food security strategy. Accordingly, it closely scrutinized the condition of farmlands and animal resources in every administrative region and the preliminary assessment of crop yield. Moreover, the meeting of Regional Administrators took note of the volume of water impounded in water storage infrastructures, in addition to reviewing the accomplishments registered in soil and water conservation endeavors, as well as reforestation activities all over the country.
The meeting further exchanged views on the work programs aimed at putting in place agricultural infrastructures, introducing modern technology and upgrading agricultural know-how.
It took note of the fact that maximum use has been made of this year’s good rainfall both in scope and effectiveness as a result of the extensive national development campaign aimed at achieving food security in general and the coordinated and wide-ranging agricultural preparations made in advance in particular. In this respect, the meeting assessed that this year’s grain harvest is expected to be better compared with that of previous years. Taking note of such coordinated endeavors, it assessed that the national development campaign to achieve food security has made satisfactory progress in all parts of the country. The meeting of Regional Administrators conducted in-depth discussion on ways and means of reinforcing theses endeavors so as to further streamline agricultural know-how and management.
The meeting continued its session in the evening hours.