The State of Eritrea

Ministry of Agriculture Newsletter

A Monthly Newsletter Prepared by the Public Relations Division, Issue No 56, February, 2023

Ministry Conducts
Annual Assessment Meeting
The Ministry of Agriculture conducted its annual
assessment meeting, on the 26th and 27th ofJanuary 2023 in Asmara, evaluating its overall
accomplishments and challenges through theyear 2022. During the meeting, its departments,
divisions and branch offices from all administrative
regions presented their respective reports and held
extensive discussion on several issues.

respectively. Accordingly, it was indicated that cropproduction increased by around 9%. However, theparticipants stressed that added efforts must be
made to attain higher level of yield per hectare.
With regards to horticultural production, thereport disclosed that the year 2022 witnessed thecultivation of fruits and vegetables in a total area ofmore than 4,600 and 22,000 hectares respectively,
and the demand thereof could be met throughout
the year, except for a short-lived instance ofshortages of few vegetable commodities due toscanty rainfall during the Azmera season.

According to the Agricultural Extension Department(AED)’s report, various on-farm and off-farm soil
and water conservation activities were carried out
on more than 50,000 hectares of land in total. This
accomplishment was addressed as considerablyvery low vis-à-vis the plan. The need to put up
increased efforts in this regard was also ultimately
emphasized through conclusive views of themeeting’s participants.
The report further highlighted that a total of
493,000 hectares of land (96% of the planned) werecultivated with cereals, legumes and oil crops inthe course of the year, giving rise to 84%, 7% & 9%

Strengthening the artificial insemination technique
was among the areas where the ministry invested
heavily during last year. AED’s report quantitatively
reveals that more than 1,500 dairy cattle wereartificially inseminated in the course of this period,
and that a better result has already started to beregistered. Thus, the number of dairy cattle hasgrown by 11%. On the other hand, an instance1

Resources Research Division managed tocharacterize 69 accessions of Taff (Eragrostis tef)
agro-morphologically; and evaluated 19 breadwheat entries (18 developed genotypes (Mannax Kafza) & 1 improved variety) using 8 traits. The
Division also conducted accessions regeneration &multiplication of seven crops.
In the Livestock Improvement Research, 11 sweet
potato lines were evaluated for forage yield andnutritive quality. Subsequently, three lines wereselected for their high bio-mass with six cuttings peryear. Establishment of Barka Breeding Nucleus atGolij was also marked as a promising step towards
identification and improvement of local breeds.
NARI’s report indicated that several solid and liquidorganic fertilizer trials were applied on wheat,potato and other vegetables. According to thereport, even though the trials will further continue,
the results, so far registered, are promising.

Mr. Kahsay Negash, Agricultural Extension Department

of decline in the scope of fodder cultivation lastyear was noted and the participants called for an
immediate intervention in this regard.

Seed improvement programs were some of NARI’s
notable achievements. During the year 2022, a
number of seed improvement programs werecarried out on wheat, sorghum, pearl millet,
barley, maize, rape seed and some legumes. Inaddition, maintenance of different crop varieties
was conducted. Similarly, the report indicated thatpotato improvement program, sweet potato seedmultiplication as well as cassava observation trials
were among the main achievements of NARI.

Participants of the assessment meeting further held
extensive discussion on the prevailing shortage ofpoultry and chick supply and laid emphasis on theimportance of adhering to backyard poultry breeding
focusing on traditional manner of incubation on thepart of farmers to sustain the sub-sector. On theother hand, it was stated that distribution of chickswill start shortly, and that prices are due to drop to
their normal levels.

NARI has also been engaged in releasing virus-free
seeds through tissue culture. During the reporting
period, promising tissue culture activities weredone on potato, banana, date-palm as well as aloevera. The routine production and distribution ofIndicating that relatively higher level of beekeeping
activities were recorded last year, the ministry noted
the efforts made to realize the set goal, especially interms of introducing top-bar hives extensively. The
report shows that number of beehives grew from34,000 to 39,000 last year.
Another point of discussion in the assessment
meeting focused on livestock health. It was madeclear that, except for fewer instances of camel
deaths in a certain part of the country, no significant
problem was faced. Consequently, a total of 1.1
million livestock and poultry were vaccinated lastyear, while more than 383,000 animals were treatedfor different ailments. The participants also noted
temporary shortage of vaccines in certain areas of
the country.
Regarding the annual report of the National
Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), its GeneticMs. Rahwa Abdela, National Agricultural Research Institute2

on tomato plants pest attacks, especially leaf miner.
Moreover, all agricultural food processing plants,
the majority of which are to milk and milk products
processing businesses, were closely inspectedin connection with safety standards. As a result,consumers are enjoying safer food, including yogurt,
which used to be imported from Yemen in the past.
The report further indicates that plant and animal
quarantine activities at entry points (Tesseney,Massawa Seaport, Asseb Seaport and Asmarainternational Airport) were implemented withsignificant success in 2022 as these quarantine
stations were equipped with the necessary facilities
and quarantine inspectors were trained to rendereffective inspection services by upgrading their pest/disease diagnostic and identification capacities.
According to the report, a number of awarenessraising meetings, which were conducted atregional and headquarter level, were organized
for stakeholders and farmers on relevant topics
like the importance of food safety, proper use andmanagement of agrochemicals (both pesticides andveterinary drugs), agricultural quarantine, as well
as seed quality and natural resources management.
While around 2000 stakeholders and farmers
took part in such meetings, it was reported that
more than 90 RSD’s inspectors attended training
courses in the country and abroad to enhance theirinspection capacity in quarantine, seed quality andmeat inspection.

Mr. Asmerom Fekadu, Regulatory Services Department

foundation seeds, vines, suckers and seedling werealso incorporated in the NARI’s 2022- report.
A report by the Regulatory Services Department(RSD) underscores the efforts made to meet its
main objectives which is ensuring safety and qualityof agricultural products. To this end, vegetableproducts, particularly tomatoes farms, wereintensively inspected for safety, besides conducting
intensive awareness-raising activities on farmers
with regard to proper application of pesticides.
The positive development is that tomato
contamination by pesticides has now drasticallydeclined. In the past, pesticides were heavily applied

The report also highlights that the RSD, representing
the Ministry of Agriculture and in collaboration3

mechanical weeding, according to a report on plant
protection.

with stakeholders (The Ministry of Land, Waterand Environment; Ministry of Marine Resources;
Forestry and Wildlife Authority; Eritrean Instituteof Technology; Hamelmalo Agricultural College;
and other private institutions), has successfully
strengthened the National Database on Fauna andFlora (NDFF), attaining data entry level of over 4200
fauna and flora species.

The breaking news on launching vaccine production
against Peste Des Petits (PPR) and Newcastle
Diseases (NCD) was reported by the National Animaland Plant Health Laboratory (NAPHL). According thereport, NAPHL has managed to produce 327,200 &30,000 doses of vaccines for NCD & PPR respectively;
and this will periodically enable the country to meetits demand. The National Laboratory also presented
extensive reports on animal and plant diseases
diagnosis; quality and safety tests as well as
strengthening regional laboratories, among others.

Regarding prevention of migratory pests, besides
limited instances of tree-locust in Gash-barka
region, and African armyworm in some parts ofthe country, the ministry didn’t face any major
challenges in 2022. The ministry is putting up
consistent endeavors to substitute farmers’ useof chemical pesticides with organic pesticides andMr. Anday Semere,
National Animal and Plant Health Laboratory

In addition to the afore-mentioned reports, allsupporting departments and divisions presented
their achievements, work plans and corresponding
challenges. The deliberations from the participantsof the meeting had the following focus, among
others: Ensuring expedited increase in the scope ofoil crops’ cultivation, strengthening grass collection
practice, boosting fodder production, carryingout cost-benefit analysis, conducting continued
maintenance and renovation of micro-dams,
expanding the space of potato seed stores, ensuring
regular supply of veterinary drugs and vaccines.

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drugs and vaccines; and giving special attention toremote areas of the country.
***H.E. Arefaine Berhe, the Minister of Agriculture,
in his remarks, called for concerted actions in soiland water conservation, use of improved seeds,
increased cultivation of oil crops, regular annual
grass collection, selecting bulls of outstanding local
breed, consolidating backyard poultry farming
activities, widespread introduction of top-bar
hives, assignment of agricultural professional atvillage and administrative-area level, increasing thenumber of farmers’ agricultural schools and regularmeetings, popularization of progressive farming,
giving added impetus to sweet potato production,
ensuring greater production of organic fertilizers
and pesticides, as well as inspiring the young
professionals at village and kebabi level to performdifferent trials.
Mr. Arefaine further gave an in-depth explanationand deliberations on the issues of standardizationof reports; strengthening youths’ participationin all national development programs; stopping
the use of perilous weed-killer (2-4-D); as well asdistribution and cultivation of locally grown hybridmaize seeds; ensuring regular supply of veterinary

H.E. Arefaine Berhe, Minister of Agriculture

Pictorial Presentation of the Assessment Meeting

Mr. Omer Mahmud, Southern Red Sea Region

Mr. Teklemariam Zerom, Anseba Region

Ms. Fithawit Gebretinsae, Maekel Region

Mr. Afenegus Zeweldi, Debub Region

5Mr. Redae Kidane, Northern Red Sea Region

Mr. Tesfay Negash, Gash-Barka Region

Ms. Almaz Gebreyohannes, Agricultural Strategic Information SystemsMs. Samrawit Kidane, Planning and Statistics

Mr. Daniel Habtemichael, Administration and Finance

Ms. Adiam Abraham, Human Resources Development

Ms. Filmawit Measho, Public Relations

Mr. Kisen Tesfay, Internal Audit

Editor-In-Chief: Ermias Solomon, Director of Public Relations Division: Email:- ersohab@gmail.com, Tel: 182225/ 07143877
Editorial Board: Filmawit Measho, Andemeskel Berhe; Line Editor: Medhanie Tsegai
Photo Credit: Aradom Bereket, Habteab Andemariam, Abraham Berhane, Tomas Mehari, MoA Archives

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