Addis ababa: Ethiopia is undertaking wide-ranging reforms to unlock its vast irrigation potential and ensure food security, affirmed Minister of Irrigation and Lowlands, Abraham Belay. The Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands conducted a document finalization workshop today on the development of the Irrigation Standard and Regulation document.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Addis Ababa University handed over a Development of Irrigation Standard and Regulation document to the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands and the Institute of Ethiopian Standards today. The university developed the document in collaboration with FAO and the ministry.
Addressing the occasion, Minister of Irrigation and Lowlands Abraham Belay said that Ethiopia has given prior attention to the irrigation sector, noting its significance in ensuring food security. Putting in place a system and standard is instrumental in properly unlocking the sector’s potential, he said, adding that the implementation of irrigation projects is on a goo
d track following the nationwide reforms in recent years.
Accordingly, devising implementation frameworks are also pivotal to properly execute the standards and regulation, he emphasized. While recognizing the potential of the sector was the first step to unlock the sector’s ample resource, developing a clear roadmap is the next step which is being understudy, the minister noted.
Similarly, FAO Representative in Ethiopia, Farayi Zimudzi, said the National Irrigation Standard and regulation is essential for enhancing food and nutrition security, fostering environmental sustainability, and improving the quality of life for all. FAO is a longstanding partner with Ethiopia which has supported irrigation development across multiple fronts including capacity building, technology transfer, and data utilization, the representative added.
The areas of partnerships with Ethiopia in national water development, infrastructure investment, designing irrigation systems and the promotion of sustainable practices, she elab
orated. The successful completion of this technical cooperation project has laid the foundation for National Irrigation standards and regulations in Ethiopia.
For the representative, the standards will guide the development and management of high-quality irrigation systems across the country. She stressed the need to further promote the sustainable use of irrigation in Ethiopia, emphasizing the significance of collective efforts to build a brighter, greener, and a more prosperous future for all Ethiopians and beyond.