Call for promoting community based activities to improve land productivity

In a message issued in connection with the 17 June World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Ministry of Agriculture called for promoting community based agricultural activities with a view to improve land productivity.

Asmara, 17 June 2020- In a message issued in connection with the 17 June World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Ministry of Agriculture called for promoting community based agricultural activities with a view to improve land productivity.

Indicating that according to the statistical report of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, more than two billion hectares of previously productive land is degraded and over 70% of natural ecosystems are affected by human use and that by 2030 that could reach 90%, the message draws attention for judicious land use,  changing lifestyles and consumer behaviour and free more land for producing basic food for humans and animal feed.

The message went on to say that since most of Eritrean people depend on Agriculture for livelihood, land is a centre of gravity for most development policies in the country and that the Government of Eritrea has been working prudently to improve land productivity and minimizing land degradation including by conducting rigorous soil and water conservation programs; construction of different kinds of water reservoirs as well as launching the Greening Campaign among others.

The message further noted that with a view to mitigate desertification and develop agricultural productivity the Government of Eritrea is working focusing on harvesting water from all kinds of sources, introducing sustainable alternative energy sources as well as raising awareness of the public on environment conservation in general and on soil and water conservation.