Sidama

OVERVIEW

The Sidama region is one of the most deforested areas in Ethiopia and faces unsustainable agricultural practices, including illegal timber logging and firewood consumption. Small-holder farmers in this hilly region also live below the poverty line. This project, established in 2015, supports small scale farmers in the fight against land erosion and extreme climatic events – temperature swings, droughts and heavy rains.

The Sidama project implements agroforestry practices in coffee systems while rejuvenating older coffee parcels, seeking to address worsening farming conditions such as reduced water resources, pests and disease affecting coffee fields and yields and loss of biodiversity. Through good agricultural practices, revenue diversification is identified, and training for farmers is provided to improve their technical knowledge.

KEY INTERVENTIONS

Agroforestry and reforestation models are put in place in and around small-holder coffee plantations to increase farmers’ resilience and restore ecosystem services through diverse native tree planting. Project activities include agroforestry training, tree distribution and planting, monitoring and technical support with the potential to reduce erosion in parcels exposed to landslides. Protection of uphill areas generates natural springs and torrents, improving water quality and quantity.

Comprehensive training is developed for farmers, consisting of 10 modules from shade management to soil and water conservation to harvest and post-harvest practices. Training modules such as pruning and stumping include tools to distribute and maximize the adoption of best practices. These modules promote sustainable farming practices and can increase yields and income.

Gender diagnostic tests are conducted to better understand gender norms in the region and assess how women could be more involved to promote and support gender equality. Other initiatives, like improving cookstoves to reduce firewood consumption and improve indoor air quality, the establishment of beehives, awareness-raising workshops and community activities are all part of the overall project initiatives implemented and supported.

BOKASSO COOPERATIVE

The Bokasso cooperative is part of the Sidama Union of coffee producers. The cooperative members are small-scale farmers with an average surface area of one hectare, are organic and FLO certified.