Getachew Tedla (Ph.D.) was born to a farmer who used to promote modern agriculture by deploying machines in Ethiopia some five decades ago. Following in his father’s footsteps of engaging in the sector he went to Europe to study agriculture. After learning in prominent schools of agriculture in Europe, he worked on large-scale farming.
He gained his doctorate degree from Marks School of Agro-Economics in Hungary. He served in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a program director of cooperative agriculture in Africa and Asia. Lesotho, Botswana, Nigeria and Tanzania were among the countries where he gained his ample experience. Five years ago he was retired from his international duties and now resides in his home country and in Sweden by consulting different NGO’s and organizations in the area of agriculture and related sectors. He sat down with Henok Reta of The Reporter to discuss issues related with agriculture and food security. Excerpts:
The Reporter: Would you tell us a bit about yourself?
Getachew: I’m married with three children. I have been to more than 40 countries working for the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union (EU). Before I left the country, I worked with the Chilalo Agriculture Development Unit (CADU) for almost two years. After completing my first degree in Sweden I returned and joined the Wolaita Agriculture Development Unit (WADU) under the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) for eight months and then left for Europe again for post-graduate studies.
What was the basic difference you’ve observed between countries where you worked in and Ethiopia?
Well, it’s a huge difference. As you are well aware of Ethiopian agriculture isn’t still separated from the traditional system of farming. Not only Ethiopia but other African countries are also doing what Ethiopia does. Those European countries, particularly the Scandinavians, have high-tech mechanized farming so that they could produce agricultural products more efficiently than any country in the world. The difference is big. Don’t forget that some African countries are doing well since they were under European dependency to train some advanced ways of farming. A few might have other economic sectors to rely on. The southern African countries such as Botswana have diamond to export and much of their land is arid. However, they are doing well to promote farming. I believe that with some efforts and support from the government, Ethiopia would succeed in achieving promising changes in introducing modern agriculture which accounts for 85 percent of the economy.
How do you see Ethiopian agriculture these days?
We need to see it in different perspectives. Infrastructure is considered as a significant factor for improvements in agronomy. Roads should be built to connect the rural with urban areas to foster investment and create markets. In this regard, I see improvements with considerable jobs left to work on. On the other hand, cooperative farming should be promoted amongst farmers. This definitely brings change to the traditional practices as it’s done jointly with the government’s policy and effective implementations.
Your practical experience reveals that cooperative unions of farmers is vital for the development of agriculture. How can agriculture benefit from such a practice?
It has great impact on the development of agriculture. Farmers should be free to involve themselves in such a way that they could bring about something to solve their problems. A cooperative style of farming would create a better way to carry out activities efficiently and may introduce farmers to many of the progress to come soon. Government and aid organizations would find it easy and direct to address the problem so that agriculture can be developed.
How do could this country develop its immense resources of agriculture?
It’s amazing to realize how this country is blessed and abundant with many of the potentials to boost its growth. The agriculture sector is the one on which this country is able to rely. I’m not doubtful about prosperity if there is a use of proper investments in agriculture. As I said earlier, transforming farming into modern agriculture is crucial, along with fostering industries to process products. When you have a wheat farm you may need a factory nearby. They have to be done side by side. Increasing the capacity of consumers to buy what farmers produce is also another factor. For instance, take teff. It’s still in the range of birr1000-plus a quintal. The other great concern falls on storage. I would not be mistaken if I say that many never estimate what percent of the production could vanish in problems related to storage. 20-30percent of the production could be lost due to improper storage in Africa. Having said that, a government should be industrious enough to ensure the effectiveness of its policies and implementations. Finally, rendering the plenty of land which have not been used yet by investors might be encouraged since there is a means in which the country could benefit unquestionably from what they produce besides the opportunities they could create to the local people’s livelhood.
Scandinavian countries are renowned for livestock breeding. Having been in those countries doing the job, how do you think Ethiopia should utilize its surplus resource of cattle?
When I went to Sweden, I had to practice on large-scale farms. I used to wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning and milk some 27 cows of a single farmer by using electric-machines after keeping their stall clean and feeding them. Since the country is well developed it has got nothing to do with amusement. I was always in a rapt attention of how my country would have such a dynamic provision to promote its livestock industry. I wish I could bring all the necessary mechanism here. However, this is impossible. We could lay out the management, the theoretical lessons, and the vaccination here. The other things will be answered through the overall growth of the country later on.
The Horn of Africa has been experiencing the worst ever hunger and drought in sixty years. What do you think is the problem challenging the region and how can countries tackle it?
In my view it’s a matter of peace and stability. If we take Somalia, the country that takes the lion’s share of the catastrophe has been without any strong central government for the past twenty years. It’s obviously lack of a regulatory body to outline policies and perform a reliable implementation jointly with international aid organizations and donators. When we see others such as Sudan, Djibouti, and Ethiopia the problems are unlike those of Somalia. It rather rotates around the natural phenomena. This is the region with insufficient annual rainfall and unfavorable climate for at least a decade, and it’s incredibly disastrous than any region of the continent. On the other hand, several UN organizations, including FAO, have been involving themselves in the region for the past forty years. Nevertheless, the problem exists. It’s become one of the most troublesome agendas of the world. Countries must sit down to discuss and rise up aggressively by joining hands towards the crux of the problem.
FAO’s new chief, Graziano da Silva, said political commitment is a must for poor countries to alleviate hunger. How serious should governments be towards his comment?
There should be a serious thought in the minds of each existing leader of those countries. Nothing will be achieved through the efforts of other pertinent bodies unless governments react seriously. Committed leaders and policymakers will definitely come up with workable ideas to tackle the insurmountable obstacles in-deed.
Graziano led the “Zero-hunger program” successfully while he was a minister of agriculture in Brazil. Some 24 million people were lifted out of poverty in that campaign. Do you think he will do the same job globally?
Being successful at the nation-wide level doesn’t mean to do a similar thing in 110 countries globally. And, it’s not an easy task to push up those countries to the level of others. He, however, has got the experience and knowledge to do the job as an agric-economist. I hope he will show us a certain positive change in his limited period ahead of the millennium development goals which have been set out to be achieved by 2015.
The UN MDGs have been set out to relieve half of almost one billion people living with hunger and insecure food supply across the globe among the top agendas to be tackled by 2015. How is it likely to take place?
In spite of all the efforts being consolidated throughout the world the positive aspects towards the success of the MDGs remains unlikely. There are only three years left. I therefore don’t think it will be attained by then. Not only the issue of food security but other critical agendas are not such simple tasks to be carried out within a period of three and even more years.
How do you see FAO’s accomplishment in poor countries?
Well I can only talk about the implementation. The issue of policies should rather be directed to those in Rome. In earlier times they were making programs in the office and handing them down for implementation. These days, they would go down to the level of farmers and discuss what the exigencies are indeed. They prescribe according to the survey they conducted on the ground. Perhaps it will work much better than what has yet been done. The new platform - PPP (Peoples’ participation Programs) - will play bigger role as it has been realized since some years ago almost in all regions across the globe.
How can a country like Ethiopia ensure food security with high demographic census?
The population has been increasing dynamically in this country. There should be something to be done on the part of the government. However, the amount of production should rise up accordingly. Saving risk-foods in proper management is also another task ahead of the upcoming developments. Curbing the over-growth of population should get under way as soon as possible.
Now, you are retired. What are you planning to do?
Two years ago I advised the country director of FAO here. I’m fully retired now and planning to write some reference books in the area of agriculture having collected data and updated information through travelling around the continent beyond publishing my personal notes. Recently, I’ve published my chronicles.
What about establishing your own farm as a model for modern farming in the country?
I’m not yet ready to do that. My father had a big farm that demonstrated modern agriculture in the country when Haile-Selassie was in power, Later on, it got demolished and entirely confiscated by the Derg. It doesn’t motivate me at all.
