The sector is a back bone of the economy in addition to contributing to the Growth Domestic Production. It contributes for export earnings too. Cognizant of these benefits, the government has formulated an Agricultural Development Led Industrialization Policy decades back. The policy emphasizes the increment of agricultural productivity on small-scale farming by utilizing agricultural inputs. Both GTP I and II further underline the vitality of enhancing agricultural productivity for diversifying the nation's economy. By now the culture of the application of inputs both from organic and inorganic materials has been gaining credence among farmers and significant result has been registered.

 

As it is known, farming particularly in the highland parts of the country is an ancient practice that stretches back to the Axumit civilization and the place is relatively densely populated. Hence, ploughing the land goes hand in hand with compromising the natural resource.

 

The ruggedness and steepness of the topography further aggravate soil erosion which takes away vital soil minerals thereby dwindling the fertility of the land.

 

Farmers in the highland part of the country side by side with sedentary farming, practice cattle raising and the number of cattle population is higher than the number of cattle in the low land areas. This implies, there is more grazing and this in turn, further exposes the soil for erosion. The open grazing system also complicate the matter. Thus, for proper utilization of the resource minimizing the cattle population and rearing in fenced off area proves advisable. In general exercising both sedentary and animal agriculture without agricultural input and improved method proves futile and achieving food security becomes unthinkable. Thus, in order to break the cycle of poverty and shortage of food, adopting new farming technology and utilizing input must be strengthened. In addition to this proper land management should be adopted.

 

Currently, to support the sector various agricultural educational institutions are expanding all over the country and graduates from these institutions are being deployed as extension workers to support farmers. Up to now, more than 80 thousand extension workers are discharging their responsibilities. Institutions which are pertinent to the sector are also doing their level best and assisting the nation's agricultural transformation. Agricultural research institutions are also making tremendous impact on the method of farming and utilizing inputs. Selected seeds, which are found through research, and that resist pests, herbs, drought, diseases must find their ways into farm lands. Planting seeds in a row is also witnessed enhancing productivity.

 

The production of compost by farmers which can be used as fertilizer is gaining ground from time to time and its application is growing. Inorganic fertilizers imported from abroad are also growing and contributing for productivity.

 

However, the importation process and its transportation from the port to the consumers farming is a bit time consuming and has its own negative impact when delay surfaces. Thus, supplying the input on time should be underlined. On the other hand, in a bid to slash down the importation bill of fertilizer the government's endeavour to produce fertilizers locally is appreciable.

 

As we know agriculture in our context is a seasonal business and it is preconditioned by a time frame. Farmers must plow their farm before the rainy season comes. And also the necessary inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, information regarding weather conditions should reach farmers in time. If delay occurs, negative repercussion will follow. In these regard, the cooperation of different stake holders is vital.

 

Crop production before harvest needs focal attention as the nature of the variety of aggro ecological zones, their climate, air and topography creates conducive environment for the emerging of microbes which antagonize plants health. As a result, during harvest time crops loss occur due to the cropping up of pests and herbs. Hence, applying herbs and pesticides can save the harvest from total damage. Side by side with this, modernizing storage facility is vital. Some of the crops get consumed by farmers. Others should be stored for the coming seasons as seminal seeds. The rest is supplied to the market and such process without sufficient storage facility imposes high cost on farmers and shackle them with poverty. In line with this, creating value chains and market integration help farmers rise their bargaining power regarding supplying their products to the market thereby enabling them to invest more on their farm. Such situation also hastens the realization of their dream of becoming surplus producers.

 

Though small-scale farming is predominant all over the country, the farming output depends on the agro ecological zones. Agricultural areas with sufficient rainfall promises surplus yields if rain is normally coming. Contrary to this, areas facing shortage of rain are highly vulnerable to food insecurity and cycle of famine but the situation can be curbed if the necessary precautionary measures can be taken. The provision of meteorological service to farmers in our country is a long practice but taking the information and applying it is a different matter. Getting information must be supported by rapid application. Meteorological institution are expanded and they make their level best in predicting the weather condition. How ever, external impacts of global warming and climate change and extreme weather conditions continue to disrupt farming unabated. Hence to overcome the problem, the application of adaptation mechanism particularly in zones with erratic rainfall must be strengthened.

 

The other method that is being embraced by the government in modernizing crop farming is the development of irrigation. As we know, though the country's water sources are threatened by global warming and to some extent, their volume is reduced, application of irrigation in small scale farming can be a remedy for water shortages and support yield productivity.

 

In sum part of the country, the practice is already there and the cultivation of horticulture has also expanded enabling some farmers increase their income.

 

Currently, the consuming habit of fruits in urban areas is developing and the demand is getting higher and higher. Mineral rich fruits such as Banana, Orange, Avocado not only support food security but also have a value for curbing malnutrition and by their nature, fruits can be cultivated three times a year and this can facilitate a healthy urban rural economic linkage.

 

Obviously, the country has a high agricultural potential.

 

The country has bountiful resources such as land, water and productive labour forces and if tapped that could allow economic miracles to be seen. In addition to that the fact that a large segment of the society are consumers indicates the nation's market potential. But mobilizing the resources must be fine-tuned with the application of agricultural inputs. Doing business as usual taking us nowhere and leaning on foreign aid when extreme conditions hit must grind to a halt.

 

Hence, to liberate ourselves from a vicious circle of food shortage, we should maximize our effort in utilizing inputs. Modernizing agriculture should be strengthened to that end, all stakeholders should show their concern.

Source : allafrica.com