A traditional field preparation in Ethiopia (2017) can be seen in the photo above where an ox-drawn plough is pulled over the land 4 – 5 times resulting in planting being delayed by the first 4-5 rains.

As we began 2018, we were looking forward to hearing more from our Ethiopian friends about successes in field preparation for the main agricultural season. Ethiopia has two rainy seasons each year: the shorter ‘belg’ season between February and April where about 20 percent of the country’s total annual maize production comes from. There are areas in Ethiopia that depend on the ‘belg’ season and these rains often are the most unpredictable. Harvest in this season occurs between March and August.

The main rainy season in Ethiopia is the ‘meher’ rainy season from May to September. Harvest occurs in the months from September to February and over 95% of total country-wide crop production occurs in this period.

Since our training last August in Ethiopia, this would be the first full ‘belg’ and ‘meher’ agricultural seasons and opportunity to apply the technologies of Farming God’s Way: minimum tillage, 100% mulch cover, soil enrichment and crop rotations. We have been hoping that farmers will be more prepared to face erratic rains with the knowledge of Farming God’s Way. Dan was excited to join Joel Zantingh (EMCC World Partners Director) on a follow-up visit to Ethiopia in conjunction with a stopover in Tanzania.

From Mwanza, Tanzania they flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There was some discussion whether they should even go, as their trip was after the surprise resignation of the president, and the subsequent implementation of a national state of emergency. They knew of development workers who had cancelled their travel plans.

Our sources told us that Addis was safe and peaceful, and so they went. They did, however, cancel a planned road trip to the south of the country. Opposition parties were staging demonstrations and putting up road blocks outside of Addis. At one stage while they were there, all roads in and out of Addis were blocked to vehicle traffic.

Dan’s main aim was to discern with our church partner there, the Kale Heywet Church, next steps for Farming God’s Way.
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You may recall that, last year, Grant Dryden and Dan trained nearly 250 Amharic Bible School teachers in Farming God’s Way for a week. While in Ethiopia this year, Dan received reports that many, perhaps even most of them are implementing Farming God’s Way on their own fields, and some have put in a demonstration garden at their bible schools. It is planting time now in Ethiopia, so we hope to hear good reports soon!

As for next steps, there are a few. The Kale Heywet Church is keen to keep the momentum building with Farming God’s Way. As such Dan has arranged for Grant Dryden to return to Ethiopia to do a follow-up training for 50 of the best implementers out of last year’s training. The idea is that these 50 can be model farmers and teachers not only for their schools and churches, but for the other bible school teachers as well.

Secondly, translation of the Farming God’s Way resources in Amharic are continuing. We’re planning to have Field Guides printed and ready in time for the upcoming training in July.

Thirdly, the leader of the Amharic Bible Schools has identified three model farmers who have good English skills for ongoing follow-up and support from Dan, via technology long distance.

In Ethiopia, smallholder farmers account for 96% of the land cultivated in the country. The potential for transformation through the Kale Heywet Church is incredible. We are praying for a national agricultural revolution in Ethiopia in our lifetime!

Photocredit: Joel Zantingh