Tearfund Canada is supporting Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church Development with a three-year agriculture and livelihood project in Zala Woreda, totaling $600,000.
Families in Zala Woreda experience chronic hunger due to high population pressure, soil erosion, worsening environmental degradation, and recurring drought. In addition, lack of access to improved seeds and other agricultural inputs have significantly reduced the land’s potential to grow crops.
Families are left with little income and insufficient access to food year-round, even when climate conditions are favorable.
In response, this project is promoting the adoption of conservation agriculture to boost households’ capacity to produce food for their families and generate a source of income. Conservation agriculture incorporates environmentally friendly farming techniques that help improve soil health and increase food production.
This project is also focusing on empowering women through self-help groups and gender awareness sessions as women have limited decision-making power yet are responsible for many farming activities. This project is aiming to benefit 1,850 households (approximately 9,065 individuals).