Arsi Farmers Benefit from Improved Seeds

The Kulumsa Agriculture Research Centre is multiplying seed varieties of which it is disseminating 23 to farmers in 22 weredas in Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State. Oilseeds, vegetables, spices, and fruits have been identified since last year, according to Solomon Gelacha, director of the centre. The seeds are disease and drought resistant as well as high yielding varieties, and could add between 10pc and 50pc growth per hectare, Solomon said. The centre produced over 6,500ql of basic select seeds from over 100ht last year, according to the director.

Ambo Farmers Building 21m Br Flour Factory

The Ambo Farmers Union is constructing a flour factory at a cost of 21 million Br. The factory will help member farmers to secure additional income, said Kassaye Kekeba, chairman of the union. Ongoing construction of the factory has created more than 200 jobs, and will create an additional 270 jobs when it becomes fully operational in two months’ time with the capacity to produce 800ql of flour daily, the chairman said.

Gov’t Puts up Ethanol Factory, Plans More

The government aims to establish several ethanol factories over the next five years, according to Alemayehu Tegenu, minister of Mines and Energy (MoME). The government plans to establish ethanol factories in all sugar factories in the country, including in the Tendaho Sugar Factory being constructed, Alemayehu said. The new ethanol factories will substitute petrol, which costs the country a huge amount in foreign currency, he said. The ethanol factory in Tendaho will have the capacity to produce 1.5 million litres per month. A total of 190 million Br has been spent on its establishment and for all necessary equipment, according to Zewdu Negate, general manager of the factory. The civil and mechanical works were carried out by local engineers.

North Shoa Builds Construction Materials Factory

Gold Line Plc launched the construction of a gypsum, lime, and cement factory in Fiche Town of North Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, at a cost of 50 million Br. The factory is being constructed in a joint venture(JV) between Ethiopian and Chinese Investors, according to Mekonnen Legesse, factory owner. The factory is expected to produce more than 300,000tn of gypsum per year, upon its completion in six months’ time, he said. The factory will reduce the shortage of construction materials in the country and create 350 jobs.

Hawassa Gets 2.2m Br Fish Farming Centre

A fish reproduction centre is being constructed at a cost of 2.2 million Br in Hawassa Town, Southern Regional State, according to the state’s agriculture bureau. The centre, which will also serve as a research centre, was built due to the increasing number of farmers interested in fish farming, the bureau said. More than 1,000 artificial lakes have been built in Arba Gona, Dalota, and Hegere Selam weredas of Sidama Zone.

Southern Region Constructing 378m Br Roads

Road development activities are being carried out in Southern Regional State at a cost of 378 million Br, according to the state rural roads authority. Rural roads covering 1,700km are being built in various parts of the state, and include Hossaena-Senbete, Tercha-Woldehyene, Kerba-Ketifate, and Lask-Hanna roads, the authority said. The funds were secured from the government and road fund, according to the authority.

Alefa Wereda Gains 24-Hour Electricity

Shawera Town in Alefa Wereda of North Gonder Zone, Amhara Regional State, has gained access to 24-hour electric power services, according to the wereda administration. The town benefited from the government’s attention to speed up development, according to Tadesse Alemu, deputy chief of the wereda. Another two neighbouring weredas have also received access to the service, Tadesse said. Over the past couple of years, the government has undertaken activities to expand roads, communications networks, potable water, as well as health and education services in the wereda.

Investors Put 20m Br into North Wollo

Investors worth over 20 million Br in combined capital have been engaged in the agriculture sector in Raya Qobo Wereda in North Wollo Zone, Amhara Regional State, according to the wereda Trade and Industry Office. The investors have been engaged in crops and fruit and vegetable development as well as animal fattening on 350ht since the previous fiscal year, said Abdu Mengesha, trade and investment expert of the office. The projects have created many jobs for people in the wereda, he said. An additional 1,800ht of land has been allotted for agriculture.

Embassy to Inaugurate Chancery, Residence

The Ethiopian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan is going to inaugurate a complex built with an outlay of over 80 million Br. The Ethiopian Government decided to create an asset in Sudan by constructing a chancery and embassy residence building, according to Ali Abdo, Ethiopia's ambassador to Sudan. The complex will also undergo a facelift.