Approximately two weeks ago, Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) organized a special “Day of Farmers”, directing special focus on the country’s improved corn seed development initiative. During the event, which drew the participation of Arefaine Berhe, the Minister of Agriculture, other senior officials from the MoA and the Southern and Central regions, numerous agricultural experts, and local farmers, the program’s progress and challenges were discussed, while a range of considerable successes were also highlighted.
As described during the gathering, the initiative to develop improved corn seeds was kickstarted in 2002, through the Halhale National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), established shortly after independence and working under the MoA, with the distribution of seeds to local farmers starting in 2006. By 2022, the MoA estimates that around 11,000 quintals of improved corn seeds have been distributed to farmers in communities across the nation. Importantly, the improved corn seeds initiative has had a profound impact. Not only has it greatly helped to raise production and increase productivity, ultimately playing a significant role in national efforts to ensure food and nutrition security, it has additionally served to positively transform lives and communities.
Beyond providing a timely and useful opportunity to direct greater focus on and appreciate the positive developments related to improved corn seeds, the Day of Farmers is particularly valuable for offering the chance to reflect on Eritrea’s broader food and agricultural efforts, as well as recognize the country’s strong and unwavering commitment to rural populations.
Reflecting on the strides made in agriculture and food security
According to estimates from the MoA, Eritrea possesses around 2.1 million hectares of potential land for rainfed agriculture and around 600,000 hectares for irrigation. Reports conducted in recent years indicate that around 500,000 hectares of land are cultivated, with more than 93 percent under modified rainfed farming (cultivated with on-farm soil and water conservation measures), while the rest is irrigated.
Notwithstanding a wide range of challenges, Eritrea has been able to register important progress in improving food and agricultural production and productivity, as well as ensuring food and nutrition security, in the three decades since independence was achieved. Compared to the early 1990s, for example, the proportions of poor people and those suffering from food insecurity in the country are believed to have declined substantially.
In terms of cereal production and productivity, a key area, considerable strides have been made. For many crops, improved seeds and varieties, which are resistant to drought, resilient against disease, and high- yielding, have been developed and distributed by NARI. These seeds, used in combination with effective agronomic practices, other inputs, and multifaceted support from the MoA, have helped the nation to more than double productivity.
Meanwhile, within horticulture, an increasingly significant area, the number of farmers engaged in the production of fruits and vegetables on a semi-commercial basis now stands at well over 11,500, a dramatic jump from around 1500 years ago. What is more, the total area of coverage for horticulture nationwide has increased fourfold, while the total production of fruits and vegetables has increased by 71 times and about 6 times, respectively.
The production of potatoes has likewise witnessed tangible improvements. Over the years, more than 70 potato varieties have been imported for adaptability trials, with the most successful being distributed to local farmers in communities across the country. At present, not only has Eritrea secured adequate potato seed for the entire year, farmers have also begun to grow potatoes in the lowlands, while the production of sweet potatoes continues to be a prominent area of focus.
Notably, poultry production, which has historically been extremely limited, has tremendously grown and it is now increasingly common within households and communities nationwide. Similarly, beekeeping has also expanded significantly; the number of beekeepers and apiaries in Eritrea has continued to steadily rise, their coverage has spread to more areas, and total honey production has maintained an upward trajectory.
Another area that is demonstrating promise is date palm cultivation. It has great potential, particularly due to the favorable climate along Eritrea’s long coastline. Thus far, approximately 21,000 date palm trees have been planted in the country, predominantly within the Northern and Southern Red Sea regions. (The MoA plans to reach 200,000 date palm trees by 2026.) In addition to helping address food security, growth in date palm cultivation will help to provide income-generating opportunities and improve livelihoods, as well as serve as a carbon sink to reduce the impact of climate change.
Highlighting an integral – yet often overlooked – part of the nation
An important underlying dimension of the Day of Farmers is that it shines the spotlight on an integral, yet all too often overlooked, part of the nation: Eritrea’s rural areas and population. This is especially significant for several reasons. Too often, when we think of or talk about developing countries – or any countries for that matter – we tend to restrict our thinking, discussions, and frameworks to national capitals or large urban areas. This overwhelming emphasis, which is frequently referred to as “urban bias”, is commonly guided by or rooted in a deep and misguided assumption that these areas and populations are the only places and people that matter or that they are somehow of inherently greater importance and more significant. Sadly, it has long been the case that rural areas and populations generally are undervalued, remaining almost forgotten and basically an afterthought. What is more, there is often also an accompanying toxic sentiment that sees rural areas and people get disdainfully looked down upon and considered as backward or uncivilized.
Yet, as the Day of Farmers helps to underscore and remind us, we must firmly keep in mind that so much of the developing world – including Eritrea – is actually rural. Rural areas and the people residing within them are a core part of our societies and they remain vital cogs within our nations and economies. According to a variety of international organizations, greater than half (and possibly even up to two-thirds) of Africa’s population live and work in rural areas, which stretch across huge land surfaces. Moreover, agricultural development is regarded as one of the most powerful tools to end extreme poverty, while the agricultural sector is widely acknowledged as being crucial to socioeconomic growth. It is estimated to account for around 4 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), while in some least developing countries, it can account for more than 25 percent of GDP. In Sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture is believed to represent approximately 65-70 percent of all jobs, with significant percentages of women employed in the sector.
The figures and wider trends traced above are all, more or less, quite applicable to Eritrea. About two-thirds of the country’s population lives in rural areas, while agriculture and pastoralism continue to be a critical part of the country’s economy, communities, and broader societal framework.
Against this backdrop and wider context, the recent Day of Farmers is especially positive and highly welcome. In addition to allowing us to learn more about these often lesser-known, frequently overlooked regions and populations, it encourages us to genuinely value and appreciate how pivotal and important they truly are to our communities, growth and development, and nation.
