Resource information
The Agricultural Policies, Programs and Targets for a Plan for Accelerated and Sustainable Development to End Poverty (PASDEP) is a national sectoral policy document of Ethiopia. It is in force for the period 2005/6-2009/10. Its main objective is to accelerate the transformation from subsistence to commercialization of smallholder agriculture through attaining increased productivity and increased share of marketed production and continued support to pro-poor basic agriculture within the framework of the national food security program.The key interventions designed to attain household food security over the five-year period are: (1) building household assets through on-farm activities; (2) undertaking a resettlement program; (3) a Safety Net Program, which helps bridge food gaps while building community assets; and (4) introducing non-farm activates. In addition to these key interventions, due attention will also be given to nutritional issues, and the maintenance of emergency capabilities.The document also provides for natural resource management. In this area, it calls for the integrated development and utilization of the resource bases (land, soil, water and forest) to enable transition to improved livelihoods. Major activities among others include sustainable land use and forests development, water management for irrigation development, and soil and water conservation. In the area of land management, it aims to utilize the natural resources in sustainable manner. Proper land-use plan will be prepared by analysing the suitability of land in 18 watersheds during the PASDEP period. In the area of water management, a major effort will be made to promote and strengthen small-scale irrigation schemes. The extension and training programs will pay particular attention to enhance farmer's capacity to use water resources efficiently, and help to build the community-level institutional structures necessary for effective irrigation management through provision of credit service where appropriate. In the area of soil conservation, focus will be given on controlling soil erosion losses from cultivated lands with varying slopes ranging from gentle to steep slopes through the use of proven structural and biological measures. In the area of forest management, it targets to promote and strengthen tree-planting activities. In terms of wildlife, it notes that efforts will be made to strengthen 20 existing wildlife protected areas and two wildlife ranches/farms. In five years’ time two community conservation sites will be established. Management plans will be prepared for 16 protected sites in order to enhance wildlife based tourism. Lastly, the document also provides measures for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization. In the area, it aims at an accelerated biodiversity conservation and utilization in sync with agricultural development and improvement frameworks.The document also provides for measures such as providing extensive technical, vocational education and training in agriculture, provision of extension services, the integrated process of technology generation, development, transfer, utilization and feedback and agricultural research. Market strengthening is also contemplated which relates to improving both the functioning of local markets to farmers capture greater benefits; and improving integration with regional and global markets for commercial agriculture. It is expected that the small farmers will take the lead, but the government will take the steps to link with large farmers, co-operatives and private sectors by ensuring the flow of information, establishing level playing field, making available the necessary infrastructure, access to land, providing direct supports for getting access to new technologies. Additionally, increasing crop production and productivity is envisaged in order to make the country food self-sufficient and to ensure household food security for the rapidly growing population as well as to improve the provision of quality products for the local agro industry and for the export market.For pest management the PASDEP provides for the following interventions: capacity building through training of farmers on pests and plant protection measures; development of pest monitoring and early warning system establishing field monitoring stations, strengthening pest trap sites, deploying pest monitoring staff/scouts; establishment of information networks to track pest development; field surveys and pest control operation to ensure readiness to act against any threatening pest situation through procurement and storage of pesticide and spraying equipment in advance; plant quarantine and inspection service; establishment of quarantine stations to monitor and control pest movement at entry points; harmonization of regulations for plant quarantine, pesticides registration and control of bio-pesticide; post-harvest loss management.
