Save the Children provides seed to more than 75,000 Households across drought affected areas

As part of its multi-sectorial drought response, Save the Children has provided seed support to more than 75,000 people across drought affected areas in Ethiopia. The intervention aims to reduce vulnerability of families affected by the drought. The seed will also support families and female headed households generate additional income through selling crops.  

We are implementing the “Support to Early Recovery and Socio-Economic Stability of the Drought-affected population in Ethiopia” project to help the communities recover from drought and improve their livelihood, help them manage the continued risks they face– both to their livelihoods and natural resources.

The Regional government, with the support of Save the Children, is encouraging small holder farmers to form Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) to serve as seed bank for the future.

Seeds are being distributed to producing groups and farmers’ cooperatives, and provide them with trainings to effectively manage their seed stocks – helping to stabilise local markets. Seeds will only be provided to farmers or groups with a capacity to carry out the activities. Some of the beneficiary selection criteria are poor farmers with cultivated land and poor female headed households. The seed will be repaid after harvest to VSLAs. Cooperatives will be supported in seed management and constructing or maintaining seed storage facilities, supporting community based seed preservation.

Save the Children has distributed 16,980 quintals of sorghum, maize, wheat, sesame , teff, barley, haricot bean, and chickpeas for the Meher season seeds benefitting 76,608 households living in drought affected areas in Amhara, Afar, Tigray, SNNP and Somali region.