For centuries, the people of Amhara have lived off the land. Today, more than 80 percent of the population provide for themselves and their families by growing crops for food, and raising livestock to provide meat, milk, eggs and labor.
But because of drought, crop production over the years has decreased, the soil has eroded, available farmland has shrunk and grazing land has decreased, making it harder and harder to care for livestock.
Most households in Amhara are able to provide only enough food for 5-8 months of the year. In order to survive, they must depend on food assistance from other countries.
Our Agricultural Development and Environmental Protection program can help increase agricultural productivity so people in the rural communities can provide enough food for themselves and their families—and thus achieve a better quality of life.