PM Office says preparations finalized to resume direct flights to Shire town, Tigray

Addis Ababa, June 16, 2021 (FBC) – The Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement yesterday on latest developments in the country particularly the humanitarian response and related activities in Tigray region.

In the statement, the Office disclosed that close to 350 Thuraya satellite phones have been provided to humanitarian organizations that have requested the devices so far.

Preparations are under their final stages for the resumption of directs flights to the town of Shire in the next one or two weeks, the office added.

Office stated that 170,798 Metric Tons of food have been distributed so-far in Tigray as per the ongoing humanitarian response in the region.

The Government of Ethiopia, World Food Program, World Vision, Care International, Food for the Hungry and the local NGE REST remain the key providers of food assistance thus far. So other humanitarian actors willing to support are encouraged to augment current efforts, the statement says.

Government remains front and center in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of lives and livelihoods in the Tigray region, the office said.

Berating Ethiopia and other African countries on freedom of speech, whilst rejecting alternative voices to the current ones adopted in global outlets by refusing op-Ed’s; articles and insights that attempt to provide context to the one-sided narrative being peddled is hypocrisy in action against universal values and principles.

Have said this, we would also like to acknowledge the work of other global outlets that have been making painstaking efforts to shed context into complex situations as they seek and share the truth. The efforts to bring balance to stories over outright biases is commendable.

The government reiterated that Ethiopia is dispensing on its duties to international norms and principles; is undertaking all efforts to address the humanitarian needs of Ethiopians in the Tigray region and stands firmly to collaborate and work closely, constructively with partners in a spirit of cooperation to address humanitarian needs.

Regarding the agricultural activity, in addition to Meher production, the ministry of agriculture in collaboration with regions is working to develop 805,000 hectares of irrigable land, of which 415,000 hectares of irrigable land allocated to wheat production and then 7.5 million quintal wheat yield is expected.

This wheat production program is planned to be scaled up in the coming consecutive cropping seasons. The rest 390,000 of land cultivated by different horticultural crops.

In the Belg season, 2,017,077 ha of land is planned to be cultivated and currently 1,934,177 ha is covered with seed. From these 21 million quintals of grain yield expected, the statement from the office said.

Based on the NMA metrological information, nation expects good rain for grain cropping in Tigray which is normal and above normal, so that the Ministry of agriculture and the region in collaboration with Development partners is trying all option to give extension service and supply of basic input and machinery support.

Agricultural development experts have started providing farm to farm Extension service in 46 tural woreda, current information indicate that 70% of the farmers have started their farming to cover long season crops like sorghum and maize.

Furthermore, 1.8 billion Birr is allocated to purchase and transport 800,000 Quintal of Inorganic fertilizer, out of which 322,864 quintal NPS and Urea are transported from port Djibouti to Mekele Warehouse.

In addition to 214,864 quintals carry over fertilizer a total of 37,728 USD worth fertilizer has already made available and 210,795 quintals transported to 27 Woreda and also 91,000 quintal fertilizer distributed to farmers.

Close to 335 Million Birr is allocated to purchase and transport 120,000 quintals of improved seed of which 97,2465 Qt. purchased and 66,387.58 Qt and 44,656 Ot is transported to Mekele and Woreda respectively. And also 26,000 Ot seed is distributed to Farmers.

The interim government allocated 24 million birr to purchase tractors to give ploughing service through cooperatives. And also encouraging the private companies to supply rental Tractors to give ploughing service.

As the livestock resource have great impact in the livelihood of the farmers, government and Partners have allocated birr 71.9 million for livestock restocking and birr 11,126,700 to purchased and supply 6,660 quintals of fodder seed. Of which 23,058 quintal is purchased and 180.5 quintal is distributed.

According to the plan 70pct of 950,000 hectare of land will expected to be cultivate and then 1.4 Million MT of production of mainly Sorghum, Teff, Sesame, wheat, Finger millet, Barely and Maize are expected, lf the peace and restoration become promising in all woreda of Tigray, the Meher performance will be in better of that of 70 percent.

The food gap in Tigray is expected to be filled by coordinated action of Productive Safety Net Program along with the agricultural activities underway in the region.

This year’s Green Legacy program targets 6 billion seedlings nationally with 1 billion prepared for neighboring countries. The call on Election Day is a call for citizens to exercise their democratic rights by voting and to dispense their citizen duty by planting far a climate resilient Ethiopia.