A rapid assessment of vegetable and irrigation systems in Tigray, Ethiopia, before and after the 2020-2022 conflict
Creators: name: Mwambi, Mercy
name: Hruy, Getachew
name: Boset, Ashenafi Mekonnen
name: Singh, Radhika
name: Schmitter, Petra
name: Legesse, Wubetu B
name: Photos: Focus Group Discussions, Tigray 2023. Photos: Getachew Hruy, Mekelle University 
name: Editing: Nick Pasiecznik 
Publisher: name: Arusha, Tanzania: World Vegetable Center
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: SMALL SCALE FARMING
subject: IRRIGATION
subject: FOOD SAFETY
subject: Tigray
subject: Smallholder agriculture
subject: Vegetable production
subject: Irrigation
subject: Conflict impact
subject: Food insecurity
subject: Seed availability

description: Before the 2020-2022 war, the food system in Tigray supported the livelihoods of most of the population, with 80% of Tigrayans relying on smallholder agriculture for food and income. The major crops were cereals, cultivated by 90% of farm households, with vegetables and root crops grown by 26% of farmers. The conflict that erupted in 2020 had devastating impacts on the food system, farmers and their livelihoods, but the extent of the impact on vegetable production is not documented. This rapid assessment was thus undertaken to understand the situation before, during and after the conflict, on vegetable systems, including irrigation which is a key resource for production. A total of 10 focus group discussions and 24 key informant interviews were carried out in July and August 2023, in the Southern, Southeast, Eastern and Central zones of Tigray. The main vegetables grown before the conflict included pepper, tomato, cabbage, onion, and potato. There was also an increasing trend in vegetable production, the use of irrigation, and irrigation infrastructure development. Inputs such as fertilizer and seed were provided through the national and regional governments. The conflict led to a disruption of the vegetable and irrigation systems as crops and infrastructure were destroyed, transportation blocked, and labor reduced due to migration. Inputs such as seeds and fertilizers became unavailable. Food insecurity increased and most people shifted their production patterns to prioritize cereals instead of vegetables. However, vegetable consumption reportedly increased as the vegetable market was not there and households opted to substitute common bean-based side dishes with vegetables because beans were not available or accessible. The situation after the conflict is that vegetable production remains low with only 30% of total irrigable land being utilized, down from 70% pre-conflict. A diversity of vegetables is still be grown, however, including tomato, onion, peppers, cabbage, Swiss chard, and lettuce, among others. Most producers are selling their vegetables for income while little is kept for consumption. Food insecurity continues to be the greatest challenge, as most households cannot produce because of the loss of productive assets, and ability to purchase food is limited because of the loss of employment and income. As efforts are channeled towards the recovery of the livelihoods in Tigray, vulnerable groups including refugees and internally displaced persons face the most challenges in recovering. Key interventions to support the vegetable and irrigation systems should concentrate on improving access to and availability of seed, and irrigation infrastructure, improving market linkages, and improving awareness of vegetables for nutrition and health, with a focus on the most vulnerable groups.