Tariku and his family Bronwyn Dumbleton photo

Tariku sows his small plot of land in maize every year, but draught has often left his plants withered and producing only a fraction of what a well-watered crop would yield. Some years, it has been so dry that his crop produced nothing. A good harvest is vital for Tariuku to provide for his family.

The Tufa and Ambagodasede Food Security project will help families like Tariku's by developing agricultural practices and constructing an irrigation scheme to bring water to his land. With better crops, families will be better able to provide for themselves, and have economic means to access health care and education services.

Irrigation for Food Security

The villages of Tufa and Ambagodasede are located 200 km South of Addis Ababa, on the shores of Lake Lanagano in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. These two villages have suffered from drought-induced food shortages over the last five years. They received food assistance from SIM for 17 months in 2003 - 2004 and continued to receive government food relief during 2004 - 2005.

The goal of this project is to improve food security in these two chronically famine-affected communities. The majority of the project will focus on building two 40 hectare irrigation schemes to sustain crops through draught. These will directly benefit 8,500 people. The Tufa irrigation is being constructed in 2007, while the second scheme will be built in 2008.

Irrigating the staple maize crop will give the people sufficient food to eat. But it will also allow the villagers to grow cash crops for the local markets such as vegetables and fruit trees.

Tariku already plants his small house compound garden in green chili peppers, a high priced item in the local market. Hauling water from the spring, one kilometer's walk away, he can only manage to care for a small plot of peppers. However, with irrigation, he will be able to plant a larger garden of chilis to sell in the market.

Bringing the Gospel

Providing a means for irrigation is not the only goal of this project. These projects are done in the name of Christ, to show his love to people who do not know him. SIM is also working together with the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC) to bring Living Water to the people of these villages. The EKHC evangelists are planting a new Church in this Muslim area. Already by November 2007, there are 30 new believers worshipping together.

Pray

• that the new church will be firmly rooted in Biblical truth, and culturally relevant.
• that the communities will give the church the freedom to grow.
• for the Ethiopian evangelists to be encouraged despite difficulties and living far from their families.

Give

The irrigation scheme will cost approximately USD $100 per family. Your gift will show Christ's compassion to the people of Tufa and Ambagodasede and make this project possible.

You can support this work by purchasing a 2008 calendar for NZ $10 (USD $10, or £10) with pictures from Tufa and the surrounding area. Email project manager Bronwyn Dumbleton to place your order.