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PART II: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
By Mathza (Originally posted at Aiga, April 6, 2004)
A: Education
The following are among the achievements in less than 10 years time:
over 50.4% increase in number of schools, 76.5% in teachers and 190.7%
in enrollment (246.8% if based on the 1991/92 figures.) School enrollment
in universal primary education in the last few years showed dramatic increase
from 20% to 64.4%. The coverage for secondary education is 19%. Enrollment
in elementary education increased from 2.46 million in 1983 (EC) to 7.7
million in 1995 (EC). The female/male enrollment ratio is rising, female
lagging by 20 percentage points. The ratio is almost close to one in the
Amhara and Tigray States and Addis Ababa. Although probably not at the
rate during the Derg regime, adult education continues. Other indications
include: the 600 primary schools constructed, rehabilitated and expanded
with the involvement of ADB; the inauguration of the digital Educational
Television and Radio Recording Studio; the launching of satellite education
broadcasting in February 2004; the soon to be constructed 100 million
Birr national technical and vocational college; and plans for 15 other
junior technical and vocational education colleges.
The number of primary schools rose from 10,394 in 1996 to 11,780 in 2001
while that of public universities, from one to six. In regard to technical
vocational and education training schools the increase was dramatic, from
6 in 1987 (EC) to 153 in 1995 (EC). Mobile education units were launched
in the pastoralist areas. A number of private universities were established.
Many new colleges, including the private ones, are operational. The Ethiopian
Civil Service College is contributing to the civil service reform program
by upgrading the capability of civil servants, with a view to improving
their services to the public. Over 8,000 professionals have graduated
since 1996.
The government envisages over 15 billion Birr spending (of which 47% for
capital expenditure) on education during the period 2003-5. The lion’s
share, 46.4%, goes to primary education. Tertiary education enrollment
which increased ten-fold to 32,000 is expected to increase further to
152,000, i.e., excluding enrollment in private higher educational institutions.
Ethiopia is among the first group of countries with good education policies
qualifying it to benefit from the fund provided by the rich countries
under the "Education for All Fast Track Initiative." The fund
is meant to support the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals
aimed at attaining universal primary education by 2015.
B: Health
According to the 1995 (EC) Annual Health Survey Report, in the last eight
years the country’s health service coverage rose from
38% to 61%. Many hospitals, clinics and other health related facilities
(1,779 primary health services in 1996-2002), including training institutions,
have been established all over the country. The number of hospitals increased
by 42 in the last few years. Currently over 60 primary health care institutions
are under implementation with the assistance of ADB. In Oromia alone there
are 20 hospitals, 112 health stations and 1,012 health posts. The on-going
construction of 150 health service facilities in the same State were expected
to have been completed by now. The construction of four health stations
and 23 health posts were underway in Benishangul-Gumuz Sate. In Tigray,
100 new health posts will be built and 1,200 female junior health professionals
trained. Mobile health units were launched in the pastoralist areas. The
Ethiopia Health and Nutrition Institute (EHNI) is undertaking 70 research
projects related to nutrition and health problems.
Other examples of achievements in this sector include: an increasing number
of people traveling shorter distances to get health services (as a result
of more health centers and more feeder roads in the rural area), completion
of expansions of two health training institutes in the SNNPS, the on-going
construction of four health stations and 23 health posts in Benishangul-Gumuz
Sate, and the successful cross-country diseases prevention and control
campaign and renderpest eradication. WHO commended the government for
“efficiently implementing the cross-country disease
prevention and control protocol†which it attributed
to “Ethiopia's success to the decentralization.â€
As in any other sector, inadequacy of skilled manpower, specially in the
rural area, is crucial in the health sector. There is apparently a shortage
of qualified health professionals. The health extension package already
operational on pilot basis envisages the training of 20,000 health professionals
(30,000 female health extension agents to serve in 15,000 kebeles according
to another source) in seven years.
A study on 1,500 factory workers showed that with behavioral change the
rate of new HIV/AIDS incidence was reduced by two-thirds. This and other
surveys and studies conducted in the past and experiences gained and the
fact that infection rates are already declining in Addis Ababa would be
expected to facilitate the implementation of the HIV/AIDS program, talk
of the day, which now figures at the top of the country's agenda. The
government has already started to make available anti-retroviral drugs
(ARVs) at 700 Birr per month and free of charge to those who cannot not
afford to buy. Two pharmaceutical factories which have been licensed to
make ARVs from imported raw materials were reported waiting to procure
funds to start production.
Over 35% of the country’s drug consumption is satisfied
by local pharmaceutical factories whose numbers have increased from one
to fourteen since 1994, Bethlehem Pharmaceuticals Plc., "Fawes"
Pharmaceuticals and drugs for animals manufacturing facility of the National
Animals Health Protection Institute, being the latest additions. A recent
study has indicated the possibility of processing medicinal plants into
six human and veterinary drugs. A production unit, which is likely to
be established, would be the first pharmaceutical plant based on indigenous
medical knowledge and raw materials, excluding vaccines. In this connection,
the memorandum of understanding on co-operation in the field of traditional
medicine signed between Ethiopia and China is likely to enhance the extraction
of drugs from medicinal plants in the country. More and more people are
having access to pharmacies. In Oromia State 62 new special pharmacies
are about to be operational.
C: Agriculture
In the agricultural sector, the number of farmers with access to agricultural
extension agents and some inputs has been increasing fast. It rose from
35,000 in1994/95 to 2.8 million in 1996/97. Currently, it is over 1.5
million in Oromia state and 470,000 in SNNPS. In the Amhara state it is
planned to increase from four million to six million. The extension service
is a crucial mean of increasing agricultural productivity.
Increasing number and quantities of new and improved varieties of seeds
(cereals, legumes, cotton, fodder) from agricultural research institutions
and centers through the Ethiopian Select Seed Enterprise are reaching
the farmers. Some of the seeds are pest resistant, drought tolerant and/or
early maturing and therefore suited to the drought prone areas. In addition
to the on-going research on indigenous crops and giving attention to non-traditional
edible materials, such as cactus, the country is in the process of evaluating
and adopting as well as importing improved crops (75 of them) from elsewhere.
Cassava, a drought resistant tuber widely used in many African countries,
is, for example, being introduced in the SNNPS. Researchers are currently
evaluating Nerica varieties for adoption. Dubbed “miracle
crop†Nerica varieties are breeds between African and
Asian rices. These coupled with improved agricultural practices being
introduced by the agricultural extension agents, use of improved and innovated
agricultural and irrigation tools and equipment (including water spraying
equipment made from local materials and locally made water-dripping equipment),
the development of appropriate water harvesting structures, correlating
crops to soil types and fertility (resulting in the application of appropriate
fertilizers in the required amounts), proper use of pesticides, the growing
number of farmers’ training centers and use of the
food aid for food-for-work programs will continue to increase yields,
productivity and production. An increasing number of farmers are already
benefiting by doubling and tripling their yields and cropping and harvesting
up to three times a year. With more and more farmers having access to
such seeds produced in an increasing number of multiplication farms and
other appropriate agricultural inputs (integrated extension package) and
barring adverse interruptions, especially drought, the country would be
expected to steadily decrease its dependency on imported and donated food.
It seems appropriate here to refer to Terracottem, a soil conditioner
that renders dry lands productive (ethioindex, 02/09/04). It is quite
possible that the Ministry of Agriculture is already looking its applicability
to Ethiopian needs and conditions.
Attempts made by the government to settle pastoralists have begun to pay
dividends. In Afar State, for instance, 500 pastoralists are expect to
harvest 2,000 tonnes of cotton from 1,500 hectares of land they irrigated.
In other areas related to the sector, a lot of development work is being
carried out. They include: building terraces, water harvesting structures
(dams, micro-dams, reservoirs, ponds, embankments, wells and tanks) and
rural roads, irrigation (272 small scale units in 1996-2002), reforestation
and afforestation. A recent example of the last is the 20,000 hectares
of land to be afforested in Kaffa zone, SNNS. The Wacha Community in the
same zone is another. Here the cooperatives of the community have agreed
to protect and benefit from the virgin forest through participatory forest
management. The ADB Group is promoting the development of agriculture.
The program it supports include Koga Irrigation and livestock improvement.
Now, thanks to the initiatives being taken related to the Nile River some
understanding is developing among the reparian states (the Nile Basin
Initiative) for the equitable and sustainable sharing of the use of the
waters of the river. This would, hopefully, mean, that there will be significant
change in the status quo of the utilization of the Nile Rive and no more
delaying tactics on the part of Egypt. In other words, Ethiopia would
be in a position to use part of its waters for large-scale irrigation
in line with its 2000 water policy. Land awaiting irrigation in west of
the Great Rift Valley is estimated at 2.3 million hectares, 200,000 of
which the government intends to develop as part of the first phase of
its long term intentions. In the past, because of the 1959 entire Nile
water sharing arrangements between Egypt and the Sudan, Ethiopia was not
only hindered but also denied finance and other inputs needed to undertake
irrigation or hydroelectric works based on the Blue Nile River and its
tributaries which contribute 85% of the waters flowing to the Nile River.
The unfair treaty which Ethiopia has nothing to do with requires that
the countries which own the sources of the Nile River have to secure the
consent of the downstream riparian states (Sudan and Egypt) before undertaking
any development activities. For example, in 1977 the Ethiopian intention
to irrigate a total of 118,000 hectares of land remained unfulfilled because
of Egypt’s opposition. Audacious Egypt threatened to
bomb Ethiopia when the latter announced in 1999 its intention to build
a dam on the Blue Nile River. These show that the criticism that was being
hurled at the government and the country for not using the vast water
resources of the country (actual use reported at less than one percent)
that flow to the west of the Valley was wrong. The latest example of criticism
comes from development aid workers who were reported to have pointed out
to unused water resource from the “absolutely enormous
great lake that's about the size of Rutland†in East
Africa. If the lake referred to is Lake Tana it is apparent that the criticism
is not valid. The same, of course, applies to Lake Victoria, although
now the countries concerned have started taking concrete steps to benefit
from their waters." Current development related to the Nile Basin
Initiative seem to have facilitated the possibility for the government
to take action on large scale irrigation and water drainage development
projects, especially around river Dedesa and lake Tana.
The huge resource in livestock and livestock products remains to be exploited
optimally. A lot of activities are being undertaken towards this end.
The introduction of fodder production is one of them, a step in the right
direction, particularly in drought prone areas where the livestock population
is at greater risk. Nineteen woredas of Tigray State are reported to be
doing just that. Another is vaccination. Seventeen million dozes of some
17 different types of veterinary vaccines have been produced for use when
and if needed. As noted earlier the development of leather and leather
products has been given due attention, particularly in view of export
potential. Up to the present, export of leather was limited to semi processed
leather . One of the leather companies managing three tanneries will start
exporting finished leather soon, thus setting a trend for others to follow.
With 85% of the population mostly consisting of poor farmers engaged
in subsistent agriculture in the rural area, there is no way that the
country will make headway without substantially uplifting the standard
of living and quality of life of this segment of the population. The agriculture-led
development strategy that the government is implementing appears to be
the right approach. According to Madavo, World Bank Vice President, “the
agriculture-led development strategy persued by the Ethiopian Government
is the only alternative to bring about sustainable development and to
address the root causes of the drought and poverty.â€
On a more recent occasion he said “the country has managed
to see a significant change after the formulation and implementation of
the Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme.†Others in
the international community are of similar views and supportive. The Bio-farming
Agricultural Research Center in Mekelle, Tigray State, is a welcome addition.
It will fill some of the gaps in research and development relevant to
agriculture. Its focus comprise: developing materials for water drip irrigation,
bio-gas and solar energy for cooking and modern honey production.
The support being provided to farmers may not be integrated enough. It
should include production, processing (only 4% of agricultural produce
processed industrially) and marketing as well as minimizing overall pre-
and post-harvest losses which could be as high as 40% of potential production.
In view of the large magnitude of the loss, focus on substantial reduction
could and should be part of the solution. For the strategy to succeed,
farmers should be assured access to inputs, including finance, and adequate
prices for their produce in the event of falling prices, as happened in
the case of coffee. In the event of crop failure due to natural disasters
(drought, flood and pest infestation), farmers should be exempted from
paying for the inputs used therein. If governments in developed countries
subsidize their farmers to the tune of hundreds of billions of Dollars
and Euros, there is no reason why the Ethiopian government should not
give partial or full debt relief to farmers in need. It is worth noting
here that the EU have started to eliminate export subsidies on some agricultural
products but maintain subsidy for farmers.
The government is likely to continue to do whatever it takes to encourage
and support farmers to increase their productivity and production as well
as stabilize prices, including, according to the Prime Minister, buying
grain from surplus producing areas and distributing them in deficit areas.
Developing and strengthening cooperatives is one of the routes the government
is using in promoting the well being of the farmers. There are over 7,366
primary and 38 cooperative unions in the country. Actions taken recently
in the development of efficient agricultural marketing and financial system
include: the launching of Rural Financial Intermediaries Program (RUFIP)
and the formation of cooperative banks (3,380 credit and saving associations
and 78 unions.) With respect to price stabilization, cooperatives, such
as the Ambo Peasants Cooperatives Union and Peasants Cooperatives Unions
in SNNPS, are already in the business of purchasing grain from their members.
Measures taken and being taken by the government to promote organic agriculture,
including the introduction of a national certification system, could significantly
increase the export of increasingly diversified agricultural products.
This is particularly significant in regard to coffee farmers who continue
to suffer because of falling coffee prices. There are already about 40,000
certified organic farmers in the country.
(To be continued)
Click the sections below to read previous postings of
Click the sections below to read previous postings of PART I
Introduction
A: Ethnic-based
Federalism
B-D: State
Land Ownership, Human Rights, Democracy
E-F: Governance,
Support of the People
G-H: Attacks
on the Leadership and Other Criticisms
I: The
Private Press
PART II:
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PART II
Introduction
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