Irrigation set to change lives in Meki Vicariate of Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Catholic Church’s Social and Development Commission Coordinating Office of Meki (ECC SDCOM) is providing irrigation water to 1200 households. The irrigation scheme constructed at Azezera Beredu Kebele of Arsi Zone has the potential to irrigate about 450 hectares of land. The project which includes the Women Savings and Credit Cooperative is implemented with a budget of 3 million Euros secured from Oxfam Intermón.

The local community which is traditionally dependent on rain-fed agriculture hopes that with the new structure, they will be able to harvest crops about three times a year. This will significantly increase the annual income of every beneficiary household as they now can produce beyond consumption. The surplus will be for the market. For such a rural community, any increase in the income for families means fewer burdens on women and children. This will allow children to attend school without disruption thus moulding them into more successful citizens. This, in turn, will contribute to the growth of the community and the development of the country as a whole.

Bishop Abraham Desta, the Apostolic Vicar of the of Meki, speaking at the inauguration ceremony, underlined that development is not something that is achieved with one process but is an ongoing effort that needs the united effort of all parties involved. He stated that the Church in Ethiopia always strives to achieve integral human development through her pastoral and development works and also by creating networks among the beneficiaries and the donor agencies. 

“They say Rome was not built in a day, so our effort for development does not stop here. Today we have inaugurated this irrigation scheme that will support about 1200 families using the water nature has provided to the community, but the water has a potential to irrigate more land so after the inauguration we must start thinking about the expansion work and reaching more beneficiary households,” he said.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, a representative of the FDRE Charities and Societies Agency, Mr Thomas appreciated the work of the Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission in supporting the rural community and assured of the agency’s continued collaboration for further achievements. 

“Our agency is always pleased when we witness that the funds received from donor agencies are put to a good use for the development needs of the rural community, we commend the achievements of the Catholic Church in all her efforts for integral human development, and we assure you of our continued collaboration,” said Mr. Thomas.

The Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission otherwise known as Caritas Ethiopia is registered with the Ethiopia Charities and Societies Agency and works through Diocesan Coordinating offices.

(Makeda Yohannes, Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat)
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