Blog Capacity-building for sustainable agricultural production in Ethiopia

In October 2024, local government officials in the Doyogena region of Ethiopia visited a PSii project site where farmers are growing faba beans and wheat in rotation. The project was praised as an exemplary approach to sustainable agricultural production.

By Jonathan MockshellDegefie Tibebe; Mohammed Ebrahim; Yodit Balcha; Lulseged Desta.

Senior political leaders and agricultural officials in the Doyogena region of Ethiopia visited a Private Sector Incentives and Investments (PSii) project site in October 2024 to see the impacts of employing sustainable agricultural approaches in Ethiopia.

Spearheaded by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the PSii project promotes agroecological practices that respond to climate change, ensuring that farming methods align with both environmental resilience and economic growth. The PSii project also aims to support the transition of current wheat cluster farms to incorporate diversification principles.

Showcasing success

Political leaders and senior agricultural officials from various districts gathered to observe the PSii implementation at Amacho-Wato kebele or ward. The focus of the visit was a 32-hectare field where faba bean and wheat are being grown in rotation to bolster soil health and increase productivity.

The method used by the farmers reduces dependency on chemical inputs by leveraging the natural nitrogen-fixing properties of faba beans. In turn, this enhances soil health and advances sustainability.

The visit was a part of the second round of capacity-building training for senior and middle-level leaders from the Prosperity Party, focusing on the theme “The Power of Dreams for Progressive Development.”

This program is designed to enhance local leaders’ ability to address economic and social challenges with effective, sustainable strategies. By seeing the agroecological practices in action with the Agroecology-Smart Living Landscapes (ALL), these leaders connected theoretical knowledge to practical applications that can shape agricultural policy and regional growth.

The site visit, which was also featured on the local party’s official Facebook page, showcased how agroecological practices can serve as examples for other districts. The partnership between the Alliance Bioversity – CIAT, the farmers’ union and district agricultural offices was praised as an important model for scaling innovations. Agricultural officials expressed interest in expanding these methods beyond Doyogena to scale their benefits across the region.

Outcomes and future projects

Officials and community members noted that the project in Doyogena has delivered measurable improvements. Farmers shared their positive experiences, emphasizing how the rotation of faba beans and wheat has led to better soil quality and more stable crop yields. The project can also help stabilize local agriculture against economic fluctuations and environmental stressors in the long-term.

Credit: Zerihun Ermias, Doyogena Agriculture Office, Farmers in wheat field project site  
 

Seeing the success in Doyogena, agricultural officials from neighboring districts expressed a strong interest in adopting similar measures. This interest reflects PSii’s commitment to not only localized projects but also scalable solutions that can benefit broader areas within Ethiopia and potentially other countries facing similar climate challenges.

The visit also included tours of the Doyogena City Administration’s food processing factory and poultry breeding centers. Integrating agroecology with food processing and livestock initiatives can create value-added opportunities for farmers and contribute to regional development.

By providing diverse income streams, these complementary projects ensure that the benefits of sustainable agriculture extend beyond crop production, supporting community resilience and economic diversification.

Building on strengths

The collaboration and partnership between research organizations, district agricultural offices and local communities is at the heart of PSii’s strategy, enabling science that translates into real-world practices, and these practices inform ongoing research. This dynamic fosters a culture of continuous co-learning and adaptation crucial for confronting the realities of climate change and preventing biodiversity loss.

By aligning efforts with programs like PSii, local leaders can guide communities toward more sustainable and resilient food systems. The engagement of political leaders and agricultural officials is pivotal for translating successful models into policy and practice on a larger scale.

As the PSii project continues to inspire broader applications of its methods, Doyogena’s Agroecology-Smart Living Landscape (ALL) success can serve as a catalyst for a more sustainable agricultural future, not only for Kembata Zone but for the entire country.

Credit: Owen Kimani, Alliance Bioversity CIAT, The PSii project team at Ministry of Agriculture office in March 2024 during visit of IFAD donor

PSii: A framework for climate-resilient agriculture

The PSii project is founded on a comprehensive approach that seeks to integrate private-sector incentives with sustainable farming practices. Funded by the European Union through the DeSIRA Initiative and managed by IFAD, PSii aims to create an ecosystem in which incentives and investments encourage agricultural methods that are resilient to climate change. The project supports local communities by fostering public-private partnerships, ensuring transparency, and driving investment in agroecological techniques that improve yields and bolster the local economy.

The intervention in Doyogena is part of PSii’s broader efforts to advance agroecology and sustainable practices across farming communities. By promoting the diversification of crops and sustainable management of inputs, PSii helps farmers build resilience against climate impacts while improving food security.

Credit: Alliance Bioversity CIAT Ethiopia, The PSii Collaborative Learning and Joint Creation Workshop on Agroecological Transitions in Ethiopia. April 2024