By Tsegay Wolde-Georgis | Project Manager
Dear supporters,
Greetings. I hope all is well with you and your loved ones during this holiday season.
I recently travelled to the village of Atebes, taking another opportunity that took to Ethiopia. I visited the victory garden project on Saturday, November 29. I interacted with the participants and learned both the positive developments and the things that requir for sustainability. Many respondents that I met said that they are beinning to harvest apple fuits. The number of fruits harvested rainged from 20 to 180 fruits. This is an outstanding achievement thanks to your support and the dedication of the articipants and our volunteers. In 2010 no one has even seen an apple tree or fruit and after 4 years people have began to eat the fruits. We plan to give awareness on marketing opportunities in 2015 so that the expected surplus is sold in the market.
The other issues we observed include bird attackes that have destroyed the fruits even before they are ripe. We plan to search ways to protect the plants from birds using both traditonal and moder ways in 2015.
We observed the availability of water from the various water harvesting systems. All families we talked to stated that they did not travel to the remote valleys to collect water due to the revitalized streams. An important promising development is the new focus by the local government in watershade mangement in the village including terracing and afforestation.This are very positive developments that can contribute to sustainability if they are fully implemented.
Some of the constraints we observed include lack of fruit tree management such as pruning as well access to the market. The apples need to be pruned and this requires additional follow up and continued training. We can also inject sustainability by introducing market information thorough training.
The bushes are invading the apple trees in the demonstration site due to neglect tied to the lack of incentives by the guards. Many individuals who did receive apple seedlings prevously are also requesting and the potential for expansion is huge.
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WILL MAKE THIS GREAT GREEN PROJECT SUSTAINABLE. WE LOOK FORWARD FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. (HAPPY HOLIDAYS:) THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
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