Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Some 27.5 percent of the seedlings planted under the Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Program were in the Blue Nile Basin, Agriculture Minister Girma Amente disclosed.
According to the Minister, 90,000 to 100,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed every year in Ethiopia.
This deforestation trend in the country has led to droughts, floods, and various natural disasters.
Following the national reform, the Green Legacy Initiative was launched in a participatory manner in 2019 to reverse the various natural disasters, he added.
Recalling the planting of 40 billion seedlings since the launch of the program in the past years, the Minister said the achievements in this regard have raised Ethiopia’s reputation at the global stage.
The implementation of the Green Legacy Program in recent years has increased the forest coverage to 23.6 percent, Girma stated, adding that efforts are being exerted to increase the coverage to 30 percent.
The Minister further revealed that 27.5 percent of the seedlings were planted in the Nile Basin, thereby increasing the coverage in the Basin to 25 percent
Moreover, he pointed out that efforts are being exerted to increase the seedlings planted under the program to 50 billion this Ethiopian budget year, citing the target of planting an additional 7.5 billion seedlings in the ongoing rainy season.
The Green Legacy Program is playing a pivotal role in reducing soil erosion and preventing fertile soil from being eroded by water, he further affirmed.
The 130-ton soil eroded from agricultural farms had been reduced by 50 percent, following endeavors carried out by the government.
The agriculture minister further noted that the program is not only preventing dams from silt, but also helping to restore water bodies that have dried up, mentioning the restoration of Lake Haromaya through the program.
Furthermore, reducing soil erosion has contributed to the increase in production and productivity, which is helping the country to achieve its food security goals as well.
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