Build victory gardens for 500 Ethiopian households

It has been nine months since the demonstration site on the “use of clay pots for irrigation in the dry lands” began. The project planted fruit trees in a common area and distributed others to individual farmers. Recent rapid survey shows that more than 85 per cent of the fruit trees have survived the long dry season. Upcoming rains arrive for the anticipated rainy season beginning in mid-June. The rainy season will further enhance the life of our planted fruit trees.

Eighty framers and student interns participated in the training workshop that took place on May 29, 2011. The participants included 24 female and 56 men from the village. Three experts who have extensive experience in plant science, rural development and capacity building gave the workshop.    

The training focused on the following issues:

• Different irrigation methods and the benefits of the clay pot irrigation system for dry land irrigation 
• The characteristics and behaviors of fruit trees such as apples. 
• The varieties of Rootstock and scion
• Management of food forests including site selection, pit preparation, composting, plantation, watering, fertilization (organic and inorganic), dormancy, pruning, follow up of disease and pests, and some cultural practices that enable preventing diseases and pests, time table for agronomic practices)
• Advantages of fruit trees (production capacity, source of income, medicinal value etc).
• The production and application of composts
• The importance of farm schedules.

During the workshop many farmers and students demanded for more apple trees to be planted during the next rainy season. Now that the trees are growing, farmers also demanded tools such as tree-cutting knives. We plan to respond positively thanks to your continued support.