In the middle of turmoil, Tigray farmers are seeing renewal. Anglican Overseas Aid supporters have brought life to Ethiopia’s northern region.
Farmer Alemnesh has seen her land transform. ‘Before the project, our land was dry and lifeless,’ Alemnesh says.
‘Now the hills are green, our bees produce more honey, and our cattle have grass and water. We can sell honey and milk, and our children see hope in the land again.’
AOA’s partner the Ethiopian Anglican Church Social and Development Organisation has rehabilitated parts of Tigray’s environment through reforestation, training on climate-smart agriculture, and construction of water infrastructure.
The changes have eased some strain on the region’s people, who lost livelihoods during the recent war and present political instability. At the same time drought made water harder and harder to find, and erosion decreased crop yields.
Now, new streams of water are flowing, soil erosion has decreased, water quality is better, and new wild animals have appeared. It’s all thanks to the church’s project, made possible through the generous giving of AOA supporters.
It means better yields of animal feed – a vital support to livelihoods. The cows, goats and sheep, farmers like Alemnesh own are producing more milk, and fetching higher prices at market.
The new streams of water ease the burden on women and children of walking long distances to collect family water. This gives them more time for other pursuits and keeps them safer, improving gender equality.
EACSDO director the Reverend Gidey says the transformation of the watershed is a living testimony that restoring the environment restores life.
‘Through soil and water conservation, biodiversity has returned, water has revived, and livelihoods have diversified,’ he says.
‘The flourishing of bees, the greening of hills, and the health of livestock are now visible signs of hope and resilience – proof that when communities unite to heal the land, the land, in turn, heals the people.’
In God’s kindness, this support has brought new life to people like Alemnesh.
