Critics sow the seeds of doubt in divisive agricultural policy

She has worked hard to achieve these impressive results, making the most of her four hectare (40,000) square meter plot. She is one of the model farmers who earned a visit from Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, and her husband, who hails her effort and hard-working personality, feels proud that she has emerged as the best-performing farmer in her village. A chauffer by training, he has limited time to spend on the farm along with his wife. “She has everything to do, and I do not worry about that,” he says.
Arsi, one of the 18 zonal administrations in the Oromia Regional State, has always been known for its massive potential for agriculture. The plateau lays on high and low lands and therefor sees a variety of weather, making the crops that grow there pretty robust. The zone is 20,737 square kilometers and has 2.85 million people, of which 86.7 percent are believed to be farmers. It is well-known for sorghum and wheat, and teff, the most common national crop, is also grown in some parts. But it is best known for its hop fields, used in the production of beer, and is the sole producer of this raw material, accounting for 40 percent of the country’s brewery consumption.
For many, Alemetu’s success in attracting senior officials from the government and media has not simply come through hard work. Keeping in touch with the Development Agents (DAs) and extension workers to use new technology and advanced seeds is also important. Moreover, the national agenda set out by the government eight years ago following the 2005 electoral result has been the cornerstone of the process. The so-called And le amist (one-on-five) is a national agenda set out by the ruling party, the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), to lift millions of farmers out of poverty.
In fact, farmers are not the only part of the program; civil servants and students are also included. “It is not a political tool that aims at increasing the number of members for the party, rather it is a developmental scheme that will bring about a huge change,” Redwan Husein, Minister of Government Communications, previously told The Reporter. Nevertheless, some are dubious about the scheme that encourages political integrity over productivity. And the opposition and critics of the government have criticized those engaged in the program as more loyal to the party than their duties.
While staunch supporters of the government hail the success of the scheme as they watch farmers become millionaires and receive awards, others remain perplexed. And some query the tangible facts, with farmers being asked by relatives in the city about this ‘national success’. Despite the fact that many do not trust the state media, few recognize the achievements lauded by the government.
Farmers like Alemetu tell of their incredible success since they became part of the carefully framed government scheme, yet they cannot represent the hundreds of poor farmers in their villages. Since the state owns the land some remain unsure about the rumored productivity levels, although there remains the feeling that favorable conditions and positive policies are changing the lives of farmers. Above all, neutral people ask the question where is all this farmland that is being ploughed by tractors when all this success is mentioned?
For many, the overwhelming argument is that most farmers across the country do not use machinery or technology. What many observe in their trips to rural areas is that oxen are still used to plough farms, as it has been for thousands of years. However, the government will always have some success stories, and the smallholders who want to increase their production can progress by working with the extension workers. They can give lessons on how to plough their farms, use seeds, and apply technology, and take time to deal with the problems. “Our bond is stronger than ever,” says Mengistu Kebede, a development agent in the West Arsi zone.
The reason why the Premier visited the successful farmers was to witness the newly applied farming methods and small technologies. Crops in Ethiopia are traditionally sown by hand, scattering the seeds right and left, which severely reduces the harvest. However, farmers are reluctantly moving to new technology, and although it takes more time they realize its importance. “Previously we were not keen, but now we know a lot more about it,” Nigusie Sunamo, a model farmer in the Selte Zone, says.
Farmers share their experiences, from Selte in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region, Arsi, Oromia and Menjar-Shenkora, to Amhara, attempting to portray a national success story. Some land workers in Western Arsi developed the wetlands, which have never before been used for agriculture. Farmers who talk about their fantastic results have been coached by their extension workers, and praise the role of the government. They speak about the strategy handed down from the political figures at the federal and regional level, and are unwilling to talk about those who fail to do the same.
Where are the failures of the “one-on-five” development strategy? What were the difficulties faced by farmers in the group? What do they want the government to do next? No clear response was found. Mixed feelings about successes and failures do not mean the process should be free from interrogation. “In spite of all the fantastic results being displayed in the farms, there are some hellish aspects there on the ground,” a resident in one of the zones said. Deriba and Girma, farmers in the West Arsi zone, have expressed their concern regarding unsolved problems.
According to them, the high cost of the seeds that they buy from the unions, insufficient road networks and an unfair share of the market are problems that need to be addressed. “How can we get enough profit to compensate buying seed at an expensive price?” they ask. Seeds from the unions can cost up to 1,156 birr, while they receive around 500 birr for the product. The infrastructure they yearn for is yet to appear, although the administration acknowledges the enquiry. “Unless we can get them to act nothing will make us successful,” they explain.
Gosa Tsegaye, head of the agriculture bureau and deputy head of the zonal administration, says that the problems are not bigger than the successes. Reorganizing the farmer’s unions with new and experienced leaders and maintaining the successes will see them in a life of unclouded happiness, he said. Model farmers who adopted the new policies can be the pride of the government, achieving the best results for two decades. However, there are millions of unlucky farmers who haven’t been enrolled in the safety net program, commentators say. “We are proud of what we have achieved so far, and we expect much more ahead of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” Tefera Deribew, Minister of Agriculture, says. According to him, the ministry is expanding the technology throughout the country, and all farmers will have access within two years.
More importantly, a promising 277 million quintals is expected nationwide according to this year’s pre-harvest prediction. And the government will continue to honor the model farmers across the country. Yet there are some who question the state’s influence of the most decisive sectors, calling for better policies and improved strategy. Nevertheless, no one would deny the rays of light emerging from some of the farming regions.

Sourced here:  http://www.thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/living-and-the-arts/society/item/1227-critics-sow-the-seeds-of-doubt-in-divisive-agricultural-policy