The State of Eritrea

Ministry of Agriculture Newsletter

A Monthly Newsletter prepared by the Public Relations Division, Issue No 49, July 2022

Let Nothing Go to Waste
Ministry of Agriculture Conducts Trials Converting Domestic Waste to Compost
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
has set 17 priority developmentareas and is closely monitoring
their implementation up to village
level. One of the 17 priority areas
relates to “Conducting Trials”. It
states that: “extension agents,
especially on the frontlines (e.g.,around villages), should regularly
conduct trials on a variety of seeds,on the proper use and doses ofbiofertilizers and biopesticides,
and on appropriate planting times[among other topics].”
Accordingly, in February 2021,
the MoA, in collaboration with
the Ministry of Marine Resources,
established a committee of experts
to conduct research and trials
on producing biofertilizers andbiopesticides.
Since its establishment, thecommittee has been involved in a
number of trials across different
parts of the country. Someachievements include: extracting
liquid fertilizer from seaweed andfish discards, producing compost
from animal and plant residue in ashort period of time, and producing
biopesticides from different plants.
Recently, some members of thecommittee began conducting trials
on converting domestic waste
into compost under the theme“Even our Waste is our Resource”.
Subsequently, three sites in Asmara
were selected: Dembe Sembel,
the Ministry of Information (MoI),
and the Orotta National Referral
Hospital. Dembe Sembel wasselected as a first trial site because
residents there use common waste
disposal containers. The MoI,
located in Tseserat, was selected
for documentation and awarenessraising purposes, while Orotta wasselected for hygienic purposes andbecause it generates adequate
waste for compost making on aregular basis.

Ms. Adiam Rezene

The Public Relations Division of theMoA followed and documented thetrials. It also conducted interviews
with the experts who organized
the process of making compost
from waste. Interviews wereconducted with some coordinatorsand beneficiaries, as well.
Ms. Adiam Rezene, a plant
protection expert in Zoba Maekel,
and a member of the biofertilizer
sub-committee, is a technicallead of the waste management
activities. Discussing the idea ofmaking compost, she said, “Theidea was generated from a shorttraining I took in Japan in 2018.
Even though the general objectiveof the training was sustainableproduction of natural fertilizers
from organic matter, the idea ofmaking compost out of waste
impressed me a lot. When I cameback to Eritrea, I proposed the idea
of making compost from waste to
the leadership of the Ministry ofAgriculture. Gladly, they accepted.”
She added that members of thebiofertilizer sub-committee have1

been involved in the productionof compost and liquid fertilizer.
Since February 2022, they havepilotedcompostproduction
using domestic waste in someneighborhoods of Asmara selectedby the MoA.
According to her, they began with
Dembe Sembel, then moved toTseserat, and recently commenced
producing compost from waste atDay 1
Orotta National Referral Hospital.
to execute the whole process ofcompost making. The good thing isMs. Adiam explained the general that the experts started their work
process as follows: domestic with an orientation program, whichwaste is collected, sorted, and was attended by representatives ofdecomposed, above or under the Dembe Sembel community.”
the ground or even in specialcontainers. To speed up the When it comes to compost making,processofdecomposition, a division of labor and a series
eitherIndigenous
Effective of procedures were followed forMicroorganisms (IEM) or Bokashi proper implementation. “Weare used, depending on the type collected domestic waste fromof compost making.
three disposal areas and broughtthem to one collection site. The“When it comes to the outcome of activities took place under thethe program, it is better that you supervision of board members
hear from the horse’s mouth,” she of the complex and 5 laborers ofsaid, referring to the beneficiaries. which 3 collected the waste, while
the other 2 were responsible for
Dembe Sembel
mixing and turning the waste
dumped in a container. TheMr. Jimie Ismael Ibrahim is a entire process was supervised byhorticulture expert at Dembe an expert from the Ministry ofSembel. He is also in charge of Agriculture,” Mr. Jimie elaborated.
coordinating the collection andsorting of waste from residents.
Regarding the outcome of the trial,
Mr. Jimie said, “We found that
According to him, the program making compost from waste waswas initiated by the MoA. “They very important because we havesent us experts who explained how been able to convert our waste
into useful fertilizer and keep theenvironment clean. The residents
are also happy that waste iscollected on time and converted
into an important agriculturalinput.”
Dembe Sembel residents also
witnessed the compost produced
being applied to the gardens
Mr. Jimie Ismael

2

After three weeks

around their premises. Mr. Jimie
confirmed that, thus far, they
have implemented the compost
producing process several times.
Results have been encouraging,with the compost being produced
in a short period of time
(approximately 3 weeks) and theplants showing good growth andhealth.
Finally, he concluded by saying,“I really appreciate the Ministryof Agriculture and its staff for
initiating such an important
project. I thank all of them forproviding us with the necessary
materials, adequate information,and technical support. I urge
everyone to make the best use ofthis simple process and keep theenvironment safe and clean.”Ms. Freweini
Abraha is theexecutive administrator of Dembe
Sembel administrative area. She
outlined that they have producedMs. Freweini Abraha

two types of compost: one in acontainer and the other in open
ground. “As of yet, we haveproduced 5 quintals of compost in
8 cycles. We have already started
using the compost for our flowers
in our gardens, with excellent
results. We will certainly keep
going,” she added.

As is standard procedure, thecollected raw material was turned
twice per week in order to getmoisture and aeration for easy
decomposition. IEM was added
to speed up the decomposition
process. This process continued
until it yielded a fully decomposed
black compost.

During the discussion, Mr. Finan tooktime to commend the willingness
and diligence of the Tseserat
Ms. Senait Melake
Another trial of compost making community in participating in theadding that more effort is neededfrom domestic waste was trial and making it a success.
conducted in the premises of Ms. Senait Melake is a resident to promote converting kitchen andthe MoI, located in the Tseserat and community leader at Tseserat other domestic wastes into usefularea. A number of families were administrative area. Regarding the fertilizers.
selected to collect and sort their initiation of the trial, she said, “We Mr. Teferi Tekle is a photographer
waste into decomposable and were told by Ms. Adiam and Mr. at the MoI. He followed the process
non-decomposable
containers. Finan to organize some families of compost production from theThe decomposable materials – who are willing to be involved in beginning.
mainly food leftovers – were the collecting and sorting waste formain inputs for making compost. the purpose of developing organic “When I saw some people collecting
The sorted waste was then mixed fertilizer. At first, we were a bit waste in our neighborhood, I
above the ground at the MoI confused about how it could be asked, ‘why? And what for?’ Whencompound.
effectively implemented. Following I heard their answer, I couldn’t
the orientation, however, we saw believe it. I said, ‘we will see’. Thenthe project’s potential and were afterward, I followed the wholeconvinced. From then on, we process eagerly to witness thecooperated as best as we could.”

Tseserat/
Ministry of Information (MoI)

Ms. Senait witnessed that after thecompletion of the process, compostwas produced. This was distributed
to the beneficiary families. “Wewere amazed after we saw theMr. Finan Tekle
difference in the swiss chard andMr. Finan Tekle, a journalist and lettuce raised with compost andcoordinator of the trial, explained without,” she remarked, before
that a short orientation about how
to differentiate between usable
and unusable waste was given to
the selected families.
“We prepared two big containers
for food leftovers or plant waste
and non-decomposable materials.
We were also waiting for thegarbage truck to come in order
to collect adequate raw materials
from families when disposing theirwaste.” he added.

Mr. Teferi Tekle

Compost application for flowers at the MoI

3final product. It was really amazing
to find a fertilizer from the foodleftovers and some other plantmaterials,” he explained.
Mr. Teferi also recommended that
relevant government bodies adopt
this practice and promote more
initiatives to convert domestic
waste into a beneficial resource.

food leftovers and other vegetablebyproducts) was collected fromthe medical, surgical, and pediatrichospitals. “We were surprised tosee an odorless fertilizer produced
from the different types of waste,”he stated.
Nurse Mehreteab Haile, a nutrition
expert at the hospital, is also oneof the coordinators of the work.
Mr. Eyob Hailemichael
He witnessed that the process wasconvert food leftovers and plant not only environmentally-friendly
materials in the kitchens andwards of Orotta National Referral
hospital into compost. This
would have the added benefitof helping reduce strong odors,
avoiding the multiplication ofharmful organisms, and improving
sanitation.

Mr. Yemane Tesfay, who resides
in Tseserat administrative area, isa horticulture expert. He was also
one of those who encouraged
community members to makecompost. He gave vegetableseedlings to all those whoparticipated in the trial, andthen followed them to see thedifference in growth between thevegetables supplied with compost
According to Ms. Adiam, theand those without.
program was launched on May 9,2022 through meetings involving
relevant environmental healthand administrative personnelof the hospital. Besides, a brieforientation was given to thestaff who were responsible forcollecting waste and cleaning thehospital’s premises.

Nurse Mehreteab Haile

but also promotes public healthbecause it decomposes materials
that could contribute to healthrisks for patients and the generalpublic.

Finally, Ms. Adiam said that all
hospitals, due to their public
nature, are ideal sources of raw
materials for compost making,
Mr. Eyob Hailemichael, head of and added, “They should prepare
environmental health at Orotta separate containers for food
Mr. Yemane Tesfay
Hospital, explained that the actual leftovers and other degradable
work was conducted from 25 May – materials that can be sources ofMr. Yemane said, “Ms. Adiam came
16 June, 2022. Waste (made up of carbon in making compost.”
up with a brilliant idea. The process
is very important and much easier
when compared to other ways ofmaking compost.”

Orotta – The National Referral
Hospital
In the first week of May 2022,
representatives of the Ministryof Agriculture and Ministry ofHealth discussed the need to
Editor-In-Chief: Ermias Solomon, Director of Public Relations Division: Email:- ersohab@gmail.com, Tel: 182225/ 07143877
Editorial Board: Filmawit Measho, Hara Weldetnsae, Andemeskel BerhePhoto Credit: Aradom Bereket, Habteab Andemariam, Thomas Mehari4