INTRODUCTION
Elabared RDP is a rural development programme being implemented by Self Help Africa in Western Eritrea. Work started in 2010 amongst communities living adjacent to SHA’s earlier Keren Project (2001-2007), which worked with rural communities at Halhal, Geleb and Hamelmalo.
LOCATION
Elabared is situated in western Eritrea in parts of the Anseba region, which includes both a part of the country’s Central Highland Plateau. The main market town in the region is Keren.
ECONOMY
Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in Elabared region. A shortage of a year around water supply, and limited access to seed and other agricultural inputs are a challenge for farmers and semi-nomadic herdsmen, who comprise upwards of 80% of the population.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
Elabared RDP seeds to improve household food self-sufficiency by improving crop production, introducing new seed varieties, promoting the use of selected high yield local varieties and supporting enterprise development.
The project also seeks to solve the prevailing shortage of water for human and animal consumption by constructing water harvesting structures and enhancing small scale irrigated horticulture activities in order to enable farmers produce two crops per year.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
The project is supporting rural communities by providing timely supply of crop seed including sorghum, barley and millet.
SHA and its government partners are also supporting farm households to plant high yielding local varieties, and promoting animal fodder production at household level.
Water harvesting structures are being constructed to enhance small scale irrigated horticulture activities in order to enable farmers produce two crops per year, while training is being provided to vulnerable groups, including female headed households, to enable them to undertake alternate income generating activities – both on and off-farm.
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