ODI Global
Irrigation improves food security, but must be done fairly
Last year 3.2 million Ethiopians needed food assistance. To improve food security, the Ethiopian government is investing hugely in irrigation, with a plan to increase irrigated land 25-fold by 2020. In this picture, a boy in Ethiopia’s Amhara region proudly shows the maize his family has produced with help from the Koga irrigation scheme.
Ethiopia does have a lot of water – but it isn’t distributed evenly or equitably. This variability could cost the country roughly one third of its growth potential and has dire implications for Ethiopians. Ethiopia could invest a lot more to harness its water assets for power, food production, industry, livestock and improvements in health and livelihoods.
Photo: Beatrice Mosello/ODI
Irrigation improves food security, but must be done fairly
Last year 3.2 million Ethiopians needed food assistance. To improve food security, the Ethiopian government is investing hugely in irrigation, with a plan to increase irrigated land 25-fold by 2020. In this picture, a boy in Ethiopia’s Amhara region proudly shows the maize his family has produced with help from the Koga irrigation scheme.
Ethiopia does have a lot of water – but it isn’t distributed evenly or equitably. This variability could cost the country roughly one third of its growth potential and has dire implications for Ethiopians. Ethiopia could invest a lot more to harness its water assets for power, food production, industry, livestock and improvements in health and livelihoods.
Photo: Beatrice Mosello/ODI