Ethiopia: “We can finally stop worrying about our next meal” – conflict-affected farmers in North Wollo, Amhara

Dinkayehu Mamo, a mother of three heading her household in Dariya village, Ayina Bugna Woreda, explained the challenges she faced before receiving ICRC’s support: “It has always been a struggle to meet our daily needs. But now, I can provide for my children, and I no longer worry about where the next meal will come from.” 

Another beneficiary, Alem Molla, who resides in Dibko village of Lasta Woreda, also expressed appreciation for the support. “Just looking at my containers gives me satisfaction and peace,” she said. “Knowing that I already have quality seeds for the next season is a huge relief. This year, I can finally feed my family without worrying about our next meal.” Receiving teff seeds and fertilizers on time and reaping a bountiful harvest has improved her family’s food security and restored a sense of stability and hope for the future.

Assefa Negash is a farmer from Ayina Michael village in Bugna Woreda. His smile reflected an overwhelming sense of achievement, as he said:

In the past, I could harvest no more than four sacks of crops. But with ICRC’s assistance, my yield has now tripled, reaching over twelve sacks”.

The ICRC’s assistance aimed both to address immediate food needs and to strengthen the resilience and stability of local communities in conflict-affected areas. By providing high-quality wheat and teff seeds together with fertilizers, it enabled farmers to resume their agricultural activities. Six months later, after the harvests, this support has increased the families’ food production, improved their well-being, and alleviated some of their fears.

Over 80% of the harvest is used for families’ food consumption, allowing them to sustain themselves for the year. Almost all can now enjoy more than two meals a day. They have also reserved seeds for the next season, covering most of their needs.

As compared to the last two years, assisted farmers harvested more than twice the amount of wheat and teff, thanks to the quality of seeds and fertilizers and to the good rainfall in North Wollo. Their families were also able to get fodder for their animals from the harvest residues. Fear of food insecurity has greatly reduced. 

Furthermore, assisted communities avoided falling into negative coping mechanisms, such as family separation in search of food and migration in search of casual labor. Sexual harassments faced by women going to collect wild food for their families is no longer an issue as there is enough food in the households.

While farmers like Alem, Dinkayehu and Assefa reap the benefits of increased agricultural yields and secure food supplies, challenges remain. Access to fertilizers, badly needed due to infertile soils, remains difficult. And the number of villages and families in need in these two hard-hit Woredas of North Wollo is much greater than those which could be assisted.

In Ayina Bugna, Lasta and other areas where access to essential services is limited and food security is precarious, in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray, the ICRC will continue to protect and assist conflict-affected communities.