June 27, 2024

More than 600,000 hectares of land in Borana, Oromia, Ethiopia, developed for animal feed production

The Borana Zone of Ethiopia's Oromia Regional State has made significant strides in developing over 600,000 hectares of land for animal feed production, providing a crucial resource for pastoralists and bolstering the region's resilience.

The head of the Oromia Agriculture Bureau, Getu Gemechu, and other officials visited the animal feed development project in Elwoye Woreda, Borana Zone, where over 63,000 hectares of land have been dedicated to forage production. This initiative is part of a broader programme launched in four Oromia zones, including Borana, to improve grasslands and pastures.

Over the past three years, the programme has covered more than 106,000 hectares with forage across the region.

In response to a drought that occurred last year, the Oromia Regional Government has further expanded forage development to a total of 750,000 hectares.

Tolera Debela, deputy head of the Oromia Agriculture Bureau, stated that the goal is to develop forage across seven million hectares of land, providing 7,000 improved forage seeds to mid-altitude and lowland areas throughout Oromia.

Deputy head of the Borana Zone Agriculture Bureau Tariku Aschenaki revealed that the zone has planned to develop forage on 600,000 hectares, with the aim of producing 1.2 million bales.

Currently, forage development is underway in five woredas (districts) within the zone, and a forage bank has been established with 43,000 bales stored for emergency use.

The project is seen as a way to improve the livelihood of the pastoralist community in the areas.

- ENA