The Ethiopian Herald
Tuesday 20 December 2005
Vol LXII Numéro 086

Authority launches Ethiopian Home Garden Project

By Mengesha Amare

ADDIS ABABA – the environmental protection authority (EPA) has launched the “Ethiopian Home Garden Project” to encourage environmental protection and enhance capacity of impoverished environments in Ethiopia.
Speaking at the launching of the project yesterday, authority deputy general manager Desalegn Mesfin said the effective implementation of the project enables to introduce an improved mechanism aimed at encouraging the diversification of agricultural production , improving the income of farmers, keeping the rural population in conserving their environment and facilitating activities in the production of beans, coffee and spices.
He further said that the geographical indication system that follows a market-based approach is essential for the protection of the environment and enhancing the welfare of farmers. The project will have significant contribution to the realisation of the national plan on accelerated and sustained development to end poverty in the country, deputy GM said.
Presenting the French ambassador Mr, Dominique Gautier said that the project, which is the first of its kind in Africa, aims at the conservation of the high biodiversity of Ethiopian home garden. To that purpose a system of geographical indication and labels of quality will be created in Ethiopia and applied to ten emblematic home gardens products like coffee, beans, spices and condiments or aromatic plants, he added.
He said that the project was designed at a cost of 3.3 millions euros provides by the French Facility For global environment (FFGE) and the global environmental fund (GEF).
The project areas include Ankober and Liyou Amba in the Amhara, Gelemso Oromia, Bonga, Dila, Arba Minch and Tarcha SNNP Sates.
Various governmental organizations including the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development worked with EPA for the realisation of the project.