FAO Says Locus Threat Serious in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) announced that the locust infestation remains a serious threat in Northeast Kenya and Southeast Ethiopia. According to the FAO's December 11 Desert Locust Bulletin, the swarms originated from Somalia and began to infest Mandera District in Kenya, and also the Somali Region of Ethiopia at the end of November. Lema Gebeyehu, head of the crop protection division in the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,(MoARD) said 375 hectares of land in Yabello and Tatale in Borena Zone are covered by the locusts.

Pastoralists Request Compensation from Sugar Factory

The Kereyu pastoralists around Metahara town, Oromia Regional State, demanded 25 Million Br in compensation last week from Metahara Sugar factory. The money was promised by Emperor Haile Selassie 40 years ago when the factory was established on the pastoralists' grazing land. The tribe says their health and well-being has been hurt by the loss of land and the pollution from the plant. Moreover, the expansion of the Awash Park also brought problems, depriving them of grazing land and causing land degradation.

EIPO to Sign Over 200 Agreements for Ethiopian Speciality Coffee

The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) announced that it planned to sign more than 200 agreements with various nations and coffee distributing companies to ensure Ethiopia's rights over its coffee brand names. Getachew Mengistie, director general of EIPO, said in a press conference held on December 18 that some 60 agreements have been signed in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America, and that more will be signed within six months. Currently, a license distribution network has been established among coffee suppliers, sellers, and foreign buyers of Ethiopia coffee. There are as many as 6,000 varieties of coffee in Ethiopia.

Youth to Get 20m Br Loan

The Gondar town Small-scale and Micro-enterprise Agency announced last week that youth in the town will get 20.6 mln Br in loans. Office Head, Zinaw Teshager, said the loans will be distributed for 7,000 young people organised in cooperatives. Zinaw further explained that in the past two years, 5,400 other young people have been engaged in various enterprises with the 16 million Br in loans previously granted.

Irrigation Dams Worth 2.3b Br Near Completion

The Water Resources Minister announced that the Kesem and Tendaho irrigation dams will be finalised in the current budget year at an estimated cost of 2.3 billion Br. Mogos Ayele, the Kesem and Tendaho projects coordinator, said upon the completion of the dams, the country's sugar production will grow four-fold. He added, the displaced community will receive housing, a clinic and education services because of the project.

Ministry to Collect Over 1.5M Br from Concert

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs estimates it will collect more than 1.5 mln Br from a music concert organised in Addis on Sunday to support persons engaged in begging. Senbu Tadesse, state minister, said most of the 250,000 tickets have already sold. A telethon will also be organised next month as part of fundraising programme, she indicated. Some 100,000 persons are engaged in begging in Addis Abeba alone, according to Tadelch Dalecho, state minister of culture and tourism.

UN Says Food Prices in Ethiopia Remain High

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said on Monday that the food prices remain extremely high despite measures taken by the government. Price increases follow general inflation in the nation, which was 18.4pc in August 2007, according to the National Bank of Ethiopia. Jacques Diouf, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said assisting poor households in rural areas to enable them to produce more food would be an efficient tool to protect hunger.

EC Awards Civil Societies 9.5m Br for Capacity Building

The European Commission (EC), announced on Thursday that it awarded 9.5 million Br for capacity building of civil society organisations in Ethiopia. According to the Commission, the grants have been awarded to organisations including the Ethiopian Initiative for Development (EID), Poverty Action Network of Civil Society in Ethiopia (PANE), Somali Pastoralist Development Forum (SPDF), Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia (PFE) and Gurage People's Self-Help Development Organisation (GPSDO). A total of around 400 Ethiopian civil society organisations are benefiting from capacity development activities.

Ethiopia to Reap 360,000tns of Coffee: Ministry

Ethiopia expects to harvest some 360,000tns of coffee in the current crop season, according to the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development(MoARD). Isayas Kebede, senior coffee development expert at the Ministry, said 220,000tns of coffee will be exported in the current fiscal year. Around 320,000tns were harvested last year, out of which 176,000tns were exported. Ethiopia has 20 millionhectares of land suitable for coffee production, according to the ministry.

EEPCO, AAU Sign Agreement for Personnel Training

State-owned Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO) and Addis Ababa University (AAU) have signed an agreement providing for higher education for 600 EEPCO employees through the University's extension programme. Recent data from the corporation indicates that of its 11,055 employees, 487 hold a first degree, 121 a second, while just two have a third.

EEPCO Signs Rural Electrification Accord

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO) on Dec. 25, 2007, signed an agreement with 19 local companies for the expansion of rural electrification at an investment of over 17.2 mln Br. Per of the agreement, 236 towns would get electric service. After signing, EEPCO General Manager, Mihiret Debebe said the corporation has larger plans to electrify some 1,714 towns across the nation.