The State of Eritrea

Ministry of Agriculture Newsletter

A Monthly Newsletter prepared by the Public Relations Division, Issue No 44, February 2022

Ministry of Agriculture Conducts AnnualAssessment Meeting
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
conducted its annual assessment
meeting from 27-28 January 2022
at its headquarters in Asmara.
The meeting was carried out
in accordance with national
COVID-19 safety measures andguidelines.
Agricultural Extension Servicesand Zobas
According to data from all zobas
and the Agricultural Extension
Department (AED), in 2021 soiland water conservation (SWC)
activities, including maintenanceof existing structures, werecarried out on more than 34,000
hectares (both on and off farm).
To date, various types of physical
SWC activities have been applied
on 39% of the total area undercultivation. Furthermore, 39
small-scale masonry dams havebeen built in the last threeyears, with another 23 underconstruction.
Temporal and spatial distributionof rainfall in 2021 was not uniform.
This affected crop production
and animal feed production,
especially in the Northern Red
Sea region.

According to estimates from allzobas, in 2021 more than 300,000tons of field crops were harvested
from a total cultivated area of505,000 hectares. The total area
under field crop production
was covered in the following
proportions: cereals (87%), pulses(9%), and oil seeds (4%). Since thegoal is to achieve a 50:25:25 ratioby 2024, farmers and experts willneed to devote extra attention tothis area.
Furthermore, the MoA has
been working on rapeseed
multiplication in the Debub andMaekel regions in order to boost
oilseed production and achieve
appropriate ratios. In 2021,
rapeseed multiplication wasconducted on 76 hectares.
The total cultivated area for
fruit production was reported
to be around 4,800 hectares,
with estimated yields of around
108,000 tons, while the total
planted area for vegetables was
16,572 hectares, with estimatedyields of roughly 246,000 tons. It

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is estimated that this sub-sector
employs approximately 12,000
households across the country.
Seed multiplication was also a
top priority for the MoA in 2021.
Around 370 hectares of land
were dedicated to field crop seedmultiplication in 2021, namely
barley, wheat, maize sorghum
and pearl millet, with a projected
yield of above 14,800 quintals.
6,069 farmers were provided
with more than 1,250 quintals of
improved seeds collected fromthe previous year 2020.
Beneficiaries of this program on
average produced 23 quintals per
hectare from rainfed crops, while
for those who supported theirfarms with irrigation 60 quintals
per hectare.
In addition, during the pastyear, a total of 11,156 quintals
of improved potato seeds weresupplied to 2,253 farmers
throughout the country. As aresult of the MoA’s efforts tointroduce potatoes in more areas,

on about 900,000 hectares of landin the NRS, SRS, and Gash Barka
regions. As a result, about 7,000
hectares of infested land wereidentified and effectively treated.

there have been promising resultsin potato production in Eritrea’s
lowlands (Gash Barka, Northern
Red Sea, and Southern Red Sea).
Efforts to expand crop production
year-round within the two agroecological zones continue.
In the area of dairy production,
artificial insemination services
were conducted on 1,600 dairy
cattle, and over 1,100 calves wereborn using AI during the reportingperiod.
Furthermore, since 2020, thedistribution of backyard chicks
has continued, with a total of882,131 one-month-old chicks
provided to 35,284 beneficiaries.
The number of bee colonies has
also increased from 30,028 in2020 to 34,924 in 2021, with anaverage honey yield of about
3,600 quintals. However, honeyproduction decreased by 17%
compared to the year 2020,
mainly due to a mismatch of therainy season with the flowering
stage of several bee forages.
According to reports on animal
health, about 3.6 million
animals(includingpoultry)
were vaccinated, helping tosignificantly reduce the incidenceof animal and zoonotic diseases.
In order to detect desert
locust breeding sites and takeappropriate measures, surveys
and assessments were conducted

In addition, around 200,000
hectares in the Gash Barka
region was surveyed to control
treelocusts.
Consequently,
1,950 hectares of infested land
was successfully treated withinsecticides.
Moreover, over 829 motorized
and manual pesticide sprayers
were maintained and repaired aspart of the desert locust control
campaign.
Notably, a washing facility,featuring a water reservoir, wasNotably, a washing facility,featuring a water reservoir, wasbuilt at Ghadem Halieb, Northern
Red Sea region. The facility is forcleaning and maintaining desert
locust sprayer vehicles.
In addition to activities to combat
migratory pests, Eritrea also
successfully organized the 66th
regular session of the Desert
Locust Control Organization for
East Africa (DLCO-EA) executive
committee meeting and Councilof Ministers conducted from
4-8 October 2021. During thecouncil session, all 9 member
states participated. Moreover,the participants agreed to finalize
the five-year strategic plan within
2021 and to appoint a new
director in January 2022
Regarding control of other pests,2

diseases, and weeds, particularly
for citrus, a team of experts
surveyed a total area of about
20,000 hectare out of which
about 15,000 hectares of affectedarea was treated. Also, 5,016
smallholder farmers with lessthan a hectare of land but witha source of water for irrigation
were identified and registered
to be included in the ongoing
Minimum Integrated Household
Agricultural Package program.
In order to minimize the use ofchemical fertilizers and pesticides,
as well as to ensure production ofsafe and nutritious food, the MoA
in collaboration with the Ministryof Marine Resources, initiatedthe mass production of biologicalfertilizers and pesticides.
Early results of the ongoing trials
being conducted at researchstations and farmers’ fields
are promising. Moreover, theincreasing adoption of biologicalfertilizer and pesticides by farmers
is encouraging.
The Regulatory Services
Department (RSD)The
Regulatory
Service
Department (RSD) is one of thecore departments of the MoA.
As per its mandate, the RSD
monitors and inspects food andfeed producing and processing
plants to help ensure that they are
working according to establishedregulations and standards.
Duringroutineinspection
activities, 36,388 litres ofmilk were rejected for being
below standard, while theRSD also found issues in someslaughterhouses. In response to
the latter, the MoA will redevelop
one slaughterhouse in Keren anduse it as a standard model forothers to follow.
Additionally, the RSD produced
brief video clips and televisionand screening seeds which
are fit for multiplication. The
certification rejection rate forseeds in 2021 was lower than theprevious year.

spots on food safety, particularly
focusing on the risks associatedwith consuming raw meat or milk,
as well as hazards associatedwith the inappropriate use ofpesticides.
Inspections were also carriedout at several land and sea
ports. Accordingly, substandard
or illegally imported animals
and animal products wereconfiscated. As part of its capacitybuilding initiatives, the RSD
scaled up efforts to strengthen its
quarantine laboratories locatedin ports.
In collaboration with all concerned
departments and divisions of
the MoA, the RSD developed aveterinary drugs and vaccines
database. This will be used inmonitoring the importation,
distribution, and consumption ofveterinary vaccines and drugs.
Moreover, efforts are underway
to identify and monitor vaccinesand drugs available in different
stores and reduce wastage.
Additionally, several feed plants
were inspected and various
corrective measures have been
implemented to improve theirfunctioning.

Furthermore, the RSD conductedefficacy trials of biopesticides,
including green muscle for desert
locust control in areas of Weqiro,
Mahmimet, and the lab of theNational Animal and Plant HealthLaboratory (NAPHL). To ensure theappropriate use and applicationof pesticides. Inspections werealso conducted at farms andcheckpoints throughout thecountry. As a result of extensive
support provided to farmers,
particularly via Integrated Pest
Management practices to control
the pest Tutaabsoluta, tomato
pesticide contamination reduced
significantly in 2021. Moreover,the RSD is successfully compilingdata and information to produce
a comprehensive database foruse and management of national
fauna and flora.
Consistent with the commitment
to capacity building and raisingpublic awareness, the RSD
organised a number of training
sessions and workshops forinspectors, farmers, and otherstakeholders.

Concerning the oversight of theseed multiplication process,the National Variety Release
Committee, headed by theRSD, inspected the process ofcertification of seed production

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National Animal and Plant HealthLaboratory (NAPHL)The National Animal and Plant
Health Laboratory (NAPHL) is anational laboratory that aims to:provide reliable, effective andconfirmative laboratory tests
for animal and plant diseasediagnosis; ensure the safety andquality of agricultural products
and inputs; and produce safe andhigh quality veterinary vaccines.

The laboratory utilizes the “OneHealth Approach”, which is acollaborative effort of multiple
disciplines
working
locally,nationally, and globally to attain
optimal health for people,animals, and the environment.
Accordingto
thereport
presented by NAPHL, controllingand preventing brucellosis andNeglected Tropical Diseases(diseases caused by Protozoa,

Helminths/Worms, Bacteria andViruses) were among the major
areas of focus for the laboratory
in its collaborative work with
the MoH and Public HealthDepartment.
In 2021, the NAPHL prepared aworking seed from master seed for
PPR vaccine production for small
ruminants and 50% for Newcastle
Disease for poultry. Notably, thePan African Veterinary Vaccine
Centre of African Union (AUPANVAC) contributed to thismilestone progress through its
unwavering support and handson training. Looking ahead, fullscale production is projected forthe current year of 2022.
On top of the work it conducts
at its headquarters, the NAPHL
aims to strengthen regional
laboratories through providing
support and organizing training
programs across the country.
National Agricultural ResearchInstituteTheNationalAgricultural
Research Institute (NARI) operatesin eight stations and substations
in different regions of Eritrea:
namely Halhale, Shambuko,Goluj, Hagaz, Aqordet, Shieb,
Gahtelay, Afdeyu, and Adi-Keih.
Last year, it conducted researchon several topics, including
crop
improvement,
genetic

wheat growth and yield.

resources preservation, naturalresource management, livestock
development,agriculturalengineering, biotechnology, andfood technology.
Crop improvement research,which was carried out in different
research stations, focused on anarray of crops, such as sorghum,
pearl millet, wheat, barley, maize,
potatoes, tomatoes, peppers,
onions, garlic, sweet potatoes,legumes (i.e., fava beans, lentils,
chick peas, grass peas), exotic
vegetables (i.e., cauliflower,beetroot, spinach, lettuce, andSwiss chard), an array of citrus
fruits.
With regard to genetic resources
research, 18 wheat and 7 sorghum
genotypes were developed bycrossing farmers’ varieties with
the improved varieties, while
naturalresources
researchincluded examinations of theimpact of compost, agronomic
practices, and liquid fertilizers on

In addition, investigations ofconservation agriculture on
wheat, fava beans, and sorghum
are in progress, while about
54 kilograms of plantation
seed was collected. Reflecting
the commitment to land andenvironment rehabilitation, threenurseries, with a total capacityof 195,000 seedlings wereestablished at Akelet, Shambuko,
and Akurdet, with another nursery
at Halhale being rehabilitated.
With foundation seed production
being one of NARI’s key research
activities, 229.5 quintals of cereals(wheat, barley, sorghum, maizeand pearl millet), legumes (greengram, beans, and chickpeas), oilcrops (onions, peppers, potatoes,
garlic, lettuce, and carrots) wereproduced. Additionally, different
forage and tree seeds werecollected for research.
The biotechnology research work
continues apace, mainly focusedon potatoes, bananas, and datepalm tissue cultures.
Meanwhile,livestock
improvement research remains
focused on grain-based calf starteras an early weaning strategy forcalves, improvement of local
chicken, and establishment ofBarka breeding nucleus at theGoluj research station.
Other active research programs
include work related to honeybees, as well as seed and soiltesting.
During the assessment meeting,
Administration and Finance;
Planning and Statistics; Public
Relations, Agricultural Strategic
Information Systems Division andHuman Resources Developmentof the Ministry bodies alsopresented their annual reportand work plan.

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Highlights of Speech by the
Minister of Agriculture, H.E.
Arefaine Berhe, at Annual
Assessment Meeting
At the conclusion of the twoday annual assessment meeting,the Minister of Agriculture, H.E.
Arefaine Berhe, delivered abrief speech. Below are several
highlights.

demandisnotrealistic.
Accordingly, we must be morepractical in our planning process.
- It is important to more effectively
and efficiently assess applicantsfor the Minimum Integrated
Household Agricultural Package(MIHAP) and give technicalsupport to small- and mediumscale commercial farmers.
- Human resource development
must remain a top priority- NARI branches throughout thecountry must be strengthened- The NAPHL should scale up
efforts to strengthen laboratories
in various zobas and expand
vaccine production- Reports and presentations ofcentral headquarters and regions
should have the same format andbe focused on results- Extension agents throughout thecountry must constantly strive to
conduct research trials and sharenew technologies with farmers- The MoA should be focusedmore on productivity instead ofproduction.

- Agricultural products must
be frequently inspected andregulated to ensure quality andmaintain high standards- GIS and agricultural strategic
informationneeds
tobecontinuouslyupdatedandstrengthened- The production of liquidand solid natural fertilizers
and biopesticides should beexpanded and upgraded in close

collaboration with the Ministry ofMarine Resources.
- To close gaps in the productionof potatoes, we have started togrow the crop in the highlands
for seed and table and in thelowlands for table only. Although
the program has begun withexcellent results, it needs to beconsolidated. Sweet potatoes
must also be focused on, as
they provide excellent nutrition,
especially for children under five
years of age- With date palm production
through tissue culture showing
promising results in the Northernand Southern Red Sea regions,production can be expanded
to the lowlands of the Anseba,
South, and Gash Barka regions- Rapeseed production is one of
the successes in 2021; accordingly,planting of this crop needs to bescaled up moving forward- Day-care facilities will need to beconstructed at several locations,
including the headquarters,
Villagio, and NARI, in order tobetter support employees withyoung children.

- Young professionals throughout
the country, preferably in groups
with different types of expertise,should be supported to develop
business plans that they can
execute at the appropriate time.
- Workingon increasing
production without considering
market status and consumers
Editor-In-Chief
Ermias Solomon, Director of Public Relations Division
Email:- ersohab@gmail.com, Tel: 182225/ 07143877/ 07182662, Asmara, Eritrea
Editorial BoardFilmawit Measho, Hara Weldetnsae, Shushan Okbay
Photo credit: Aradom Bereket, Habteab Andemariam, Thomas Mehari5