Tackling rural poverty, together

Extract

To fight the widely spread malnutrition in the Highlands of South Gondar, the Integrated Food Security Program introduced new crops, production techniques (incl. biological methods for erosion control) and health measures. Food imports in the region have considerably declined in 2004. Introduction and dissemination of a new type of cereal (triticale) together with the application of a new innovative plowing method led to increases in cereal production from 100% to 300% . Planting forage grass and multiple- purpose trees in the erosion-affected areas has significantly improved the biological anti-erosion conditions and at the same time served as a basis for animal feeding. The number of diseases caused by contaminated drinking water has declined.