Two things are required for Eritrea to free itself from the prevailing economic problem: great effort and responsibility. We should work with every potential to compensate for what is lost during decades of colonial period. The country owes its people a lot.

Agricultural investment is one of our basic and priority tasks. The main experience acquired in the past stages of agricultural sectors shows that our farming system needs to change. Problems are unavoidable that the society still acquires limited knowledge in farming. Though people have experienced farming for most of their life time, life is still from hand to mouth.

Another problem is that irrigation farming is not well practiced and any step taken by an individual towards the use of irrigation is perceived by many as confiscation of land rather than a step for development. The government’s policy that says ‘land is the property of the government’ helps avoid the mentioned problem. But the farmers above all should believe in the policy.

Mr. Fkadu, who operates a modern farming project in Mai-Edaga area said, “In an agricultural investment, farmers don’t simply accept you unless they see productivity. Agriculture hasn’t improved because our farming systems still hasn’t changed. For instance I went through a lot of difficulties to bring this farm to what it has become now. Farming requires a continual work and follow ups.”

An occasion, ‘Farmers day’ was organized on 20th may 2009 for 250 farmers from different areas of Southern region by the project, Ministry of Agriculture and Administration of Mai-Edaga. Mr. Fkadu said that after a detailed explanation during the project, the farmers understood how productive the newly introduced modern farming system is. He also said that one shouldn’t die poor because of being born poor and we should totally leave the way of farming we have been practicing before to improve our ways of living. He added that the program has intended to enable every farmer observe the project for every four months.

Agriculture is not a sector where you get the result instantly and also not something you succeed only through routine work. It needs advanced irrigation, drip irrigation, fertilizing, crop rotation, efficient use of water, soil management and a good research. In the past half a century, in China and other Southern Asian countries, the production has increased by three fold while the arable land only increased by 10%. In Africa on the contrary, the level of production hasn’t increased though the arable land has doubled.

Around 80% of our population lives on farming but still couldn’t insure security of food. On the other hand looking at the agricultural development in developed countries production is high though small percentage of the population involves in farming. It is time for our farmers to change their way of thinking and work on the farming system introduced after Independence.

‘Afewerki Mechanized Farming’ located in Mai Edaga area shows high productivity on a small area using modern farming system. The land, being ploughed only in summer has not been providing the required product. But now with the investment held, it has become a self based research center and source of a good income. Owner of the project Mr. Fkadu says that though the area is 12 hectares, its production covers almost 40 hectares income wise.

During the past 50 years in Africa, not more than 10 quintals have been harvested from a hectare where more than 40 quintals have been harvested from the same size in developed countries. Production should increase that the figure doesn’t guarantee security of food. A research on cotton farming in Afhimbol and Gersset proved that 60 quintals could be harvested from a hectare which previously was from 10-17 quintals. Farming is not something one succeeds through trial and error; research on what to get and how to get it should be conducted first.

Agricultural activity in our country is seasonal and only the same type of crop is grown every time. Afewerki Mechanized Farming is an example that shows the land can produce different types of crops at the same time.

Farming in our country is seasonal and mostly the same type of crop is planted. Showing that different agricultural products could be harvested at a time, potato, grape, sweet potato, apple, lemon and orange and other types of crops have been planted in the farm. The farm is also becoming a research center. Machinery is the corner stone of modern agriculture. But since it is imported, it is expensive. Assembling the machineries with its certain parts imported is an option to be introduced in the project.

The main barrier in agricultural activities operated with machineries is the lack of fuel. Control of fuel supply is on others’ hands which makes it more difficult. To alleviate this problem, Mr. Fkadu has planted trees where fuel can be extracted from the seeds. One hectare the plantation can produce 7 tons of fuel. Using batteries for the machineries is also another option. Avoiding the full dependence on fuel using one windmill, 2 solar and 3 bio diesels is how we can perform secure and continual task with our own materials.

Mr. fkadu says “many farmers understood and started practicing the modern system after observing the land that was unused for years while being so productive.”

Though Mr. Fkadu lives in Greece he is trying to create a good base of farming by frequently visiting Eritrea within the past two years. He said “I want to see the project practiced by every farmer. If the production rises, the project can transfer from production to canning which opens trade center for the farmers.

Based on his relations with the farmers of the area, Mr. Fkadu said that this is not different and any one can do it. The difference is only on water and soil management. We have created a work spirit where any farmer comes, observes, and gets any required information. The Farmers Day which is planned to be celebrated every year is expected to help the farmers tighten their relationships and exchange experience.

Mr. Fkadu explaining the research plans said, “We do the researches by ourselves and we got a promising sign on the sweet potato research. Since the plan is to get better production, this area also serves as a research center.” Reproduction of cattle and pigs is also one of the basic plans of the company. There is a secure source of food and water at the edge of the plantation. The company also focuses on the supply of meat, milk and its products. The manure of the animals serves as a natural fertilizer.

Applying different activities in a limited area may seem exaggeration for many. But every performance is well researched before hand. Performance is always started when everything gets its final picture. The land can provide several types of crops. The point that is needed to be explained is that every part of the land has its own contribution if managed well. Mr. Fkadu said that use of water is modernized and that drip irrigation is more beneficial than irrigation. Every drop of water is in use.

This investment has to reach at the required stage, be experienced vastly in the area and extend to other places of the country. Development is impossible without a basic change traditional thinking and usage. For the plans to succeed the farmers should learn and use the modern system. People of Mai Edaga and Adi Nefas have highest opportunity of improving the life style with the available water sources.

The modern technology that Eritrea is using in the agricultural sectors can insure food security. Mr. Fkadu said, “We believe that no society is advanced without insuring security of food in its own ways and our performances are promising.

Mr.Fkadu has a plan of implementing a huge agricultural investment in Eritrea and to encourage the farmers transform into modern farming system.

Translated by Selam Seyoum