Extension program benefits over 95,500 farmers in Tigray 

Mekele, August 06,2005 (WIC) - The Tigray State Farmers Association disclosed that 95,590 farmers embraced by the extension program have been engaged in various activities since last May with the over 190 million birr loan they secured from credit institutes. 

Association Chairman, Fekadu Kidane, told WIC today that the farmers are engaged in extension programs of their own choice, adding that they have also received training on cattle breeding, crop production, natural resources conservation and finance handling before receiving three to five thousand birr loan each from the Dedebit Credit Institute and the Regional Cooperatives Office. 

The Chairman also indicated that the farmers are currently engaged in dairy, honey, irrigated crops productions as well as poultry, goats and sheep breeding. 

Some 37, 937 farmers engaged in irrigation schemes have prepared 53,000 water harvesting ponds, sunk  water wells and used small rivers for agricultural activities, he said. 

According to him, over 85,000 farmers who are unable to engage in the extension program are organized in minimum packages so as to help them extricate themselves from poverty using locally available materials. 

The Chairman stated that of the 54,540 farmers who have been embraced by the extension program since the last Ethiopian year most have improved their lives as the annual income of each has grown five thousand to 18 thousand birr.(END)