The Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) is working in Ethiopia to help the country leverage its livestock and agricultural resources for economic development.
CGIAR is a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security and its research aims to reduce rural poverty, increase food security, improve human health and nutrition, and sustainable management of natural resources.
Researches indicate that Ethiopia has the potential to ensure its food security and make a difference in agriculture by properly exploiting the untapped potential of the sector.
The government of Ethiopia, under its Home Grown Economy Agenda, has been implementing a number of programs in this regard with a view to enabling the country properly exploit its potentials to improve the sector as most of the country’s huge arable land has not yet been cultivated.
The efforts so far carried out have been showing remarkable achievements in terms of agricultural pr
oductivity as witnessed in wheat irrigation endeavors.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, CGIAR’s Regional Director, East and Southern Africa, Namukolo Covic told ENA that the center is supporting Ethiopia’s agricultural development in particularly in research.
“We have several CGIAR research institutions that response to many government strategies.We work across the entire agriculture fields; in crops like maize, wheat, potatoes, vegetables, we also work on livestock,” she added.
There are a number of priority areas; the first priority area is on genetic improvement on both crops and livestock through the breeding activities, according to Covic.
So, then production practices come on board for livestock, she noted stressing the need to bring on board good quality feed, but we also have to address issue of disease.
For crops, it is the same thing, the genetics might give us the potential for higher productivity but if we’re not using proper production practices, good land management, soil facility m
anagement, then we are not going to be able to attain those potentials.
‘So, our work focuses on these things, increase productivity and production through genetics improvement and also through production practices that allow us to leverage that genetic potential,’ the Regional Director said.
She stated that as a result, CGIAR looks at the country’s ten-year prospective development plan (2021-2030) to guide the kind of research it conducts and ensure that any solutions it produces are pertinent to the goal of national development.
In terms of green legacy initiative, Covic said “I personally find it to be a very useful directive from government.”
‘As climate is changing, one of the ways in which Ethiopia can contribute to addressing climate change for better soil health through the green legacy program. So, by planting more trees we can help to reduce even greenhouse gas emissions, it helps us manage soil better, we can reduce soil erosion that damages the land.’
The recent developments in Ethiopia in te
rms of developing a Food Systems Transformation pathway and roadmap and food based dietary guidelines provide an entry point to really transform Ethiopia’s agricultural food system in such a way that it can deliver better for diets and nutrition, Covic said.
Through the national research system, ministry of agriculture, Agriculture Transformation Agenct (ATI), the research we have done find fertile ground through which we can reach greater high, she said.
CGIAR is a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security.
CGIAR research aims to reduce rural poverty, increase food security, improve human health and nutrition, and sustainable management of natural resources.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Ghana will in March this year host the 12th Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) conference in Accra.
Scheduled from March 19th to 20th, with training workshops on the 18th and 21st of March, the conference founded by the Catholic Relief Service and a consortium of Experts in ICT would bring together a community of practitioners and learn from each other on how to apply rapidly evolving digital technologies to help accelerate the end of poverty, hunger, and preventable disease.
A statement signed by Mr E. Maaweh Tanga, a Communication Development Professional and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said ICT4D Conference was a dynamic multi-disciplinary gathering of some 600 inspiring leaders and thought-provoking speakers from public, private, and civil society organizations from across the humanitarian and international development community.
‘The global conference explores how Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) and data innovations are making a
measurable difference in millions of peoples’ lives and increasing the impact of humanitarian relief and development projects’.
He said the conference aims at advancing global knowledge exchange and building capacity on ICT4D and digital development to drive more impactful use of technology for good.
‘Highly interactive and hands-on, the conference attracts a diverse audience of technical advisors and senior executives from renowned global firms and organizations who are passionate about discussing innovative solutions to emerging global challenges’.
Mr Tanga said this year’s conference agenda would focus on three main themes. The ‘Digital to Tackle Wicked Problems’ theme which emphasizes the important role of digital and collaborative solutions in addressing socially complex, sometimes contradictory, and often changing problems.
‘This theme highlights essential topics such as Food security and agriculture; Climate change adaptation and mitigation; Digital health; Conflict, peacebuilding, social cohes
ion; Youth engagement and employment; Digital inclusion; and Digital Cash’.
He said the theme would also feature multiple sessions focused on innovations in using geospatial data for development and humanitarian outcomes, and how the most recent developments in AI and machine learning could be applied for social good.
‘ The third theme, ‘Local Leadership for a Digital Future’ will feature discussions that highlight opportunities and approaches to build responsible, sustainable, and locally owned digital foundations. Much of the focus will be on digital public goods and digital public infrastructure, as these are increasingly recognized as essential for societies to reap the benefits of digital transformation’.
The local partner, he said was the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization (MOCD) the official Government of Ghana partner for the 2024 ICT4D Conference.
‘ Marshalling a blend of local expertise from across the public service and specialized agencies and ministries, MOCD is coordinating the f
ull participation of Ghana’s public sector actors to both enrich the conference and highlight its local leadership theme. The MOCD is a key partner in the local organizing committee of the conference’.
He said as the Ministry charged with leading Ghana’s digital transformation and digitalization of public services, the MOCD was strategically positioned to coordinate with CRS and their partners to deliver a colourful and exciting event this year.
‘The ministry is expected to share Ghana’s record of blazing the trail in successfully rolling out policy initiatives that have significantly impacted several sectors of the economy, like the introduction of Mobile Money interoperability, the first of its kind on the African continent at the time’.
The event was first held in Ghana in 2013. Since then, it has taken a tour of the world and introduced a virtual session in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the statement, Nora Lindström, a Senior ICT4D Director at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said, ‘Ea
ch year I am amazed by the incredible examples of how the responsible and effective use of tech and data enable us to increase our impact at scale. I am particularly excited about the upcoming Conference as it will bring together the global ICT4D community in person after a long time.’
Source: Ghana News Agency