The Challenge
In the South Ethiopia highlands, decades of unsustainable farming practices led to:
- 75% soil degradation
- Declining crop yields (60% reduction in 20 years)
- Deforestation for firewood
- Food insecurity affecting 80% of households
- Climate vulnerability increasing
ACEO’s Integrated Approach (2019-2024)
We implemented a 5-year sustainable agriculture program with 500 farming families:
1. Soil Conservation
- Terracing on 200 hectares
- Contour farming techniques
- Organic composting training
- Crop rotation systems
2. Water Management
- Rainwater harvesting systems
- Drip irrigation installation
- Small-scale water ponds
3. Agroforestry
- Planted 50,000 multipurpose trees
- Fruit tree orchards establishment
- Living fences and windbreaks
4. Climate-Resilient Crops
- Drought-resistant seed varieties
- Diversified cropping systems
- Integrated pest management
Results After 5 Years
| Indicator | Before (2019) | After (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Crop Yield (quintals/hectare) | 8 | 22 |
| Food Security (months/year) | 4 | 12 |
| Household Income (ETB/year) | 15,000 | 45,000 |
| Tree Cover (% increase) | 0% | 35% |
| Soil Quality (rating 1-10) | 3 | 8 |
Farmer Success Story
Mr. Tesfaye, a 45-year-old farmer with 5 children, shares: “I was ready to abandon farming and migrate to the city. My land was exhausted. With ACEO’s training, I transformed my 2 hectares. Now I grow enough to feed my family, sell surplus, and even send my children to college. My oldest daughter is studying agriculture at university.”
Scaling Up
The regional government has adopted our model and plans to scale it to 10,000 farmers by 2026. ACEO is now training government extension workers in our methods.