Gambella Agriculture Report
Gambella Agriculture Report
Gambella Agriculture Report
1. Omar Abubeker
2. Melku Abebe
Gambella is one of the emerging regions in Ethiopia. Its economy is predominantly based on
agriculture with mixed farming among the Anyuak and Majang people and agro-pastoral among
the Nuer people. The region lacks infrastructure with a poor transportation network among the
districts (woredas).
Gambella National Regional State has been chosen as a regional example to demonstrate the
feasibility of the framework. It is situated in the south-western part of Ethiopia, with a total land
area of 25,521 km2. It shares a long border with South Sudan and two other Ethiopian regions:
Oromia to the north and east and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State
(SNNPRS) to the south (as shown in Figure 1). Altitude in the region progressively declines
from the east to the west, with parts of the region ranging from 1000 to 2200 m above mean sea
level in the east, to 500–900 m in the center and 300–500 m in the west. Around 90% of the
region is dominated by lowland area. Temperature and rainfall of the region are conducive for
agricultural activities. As shown in Figure 2, the annual rainfall ranges between 800 and 1200
mm and 85% of rainfall occurs between May and October. The annual average temperature of
the region varies from 21.7 to 38.8 degrees Celsius (°C).
Currently, around 280,000 ha of land in the Gambella region is covered by cropland. It consists
of both small and large-scale farms. It is therefore unrealistic to assume that intensification can
completely close current yield gaps, because of many factors which in practice work against it,
such as severe weather and pests.
Four major crops maize, sorghum, sesame seed and green mug these crops account for 97% of
Gambella region’s crop production by small scale farmers and 95% of the region’s harvested
area.
Maize, sorghum growing seasons are belg and meher. Belg is the shorter season from February
to April, and meher is the main season from May to September. Grain production greatly
depends on rainfall patterns during the belg season.
Sesame seed growing seasons are meher or bega. meher is the main season from May to
September. bega is the main season from September to February.
Green mug growing seasons are Tsedey. Tsedey is the main season from September to
november.
We realize the spatial distribution of the two expansion assumptions TOP 30 and TOP 50. The
resulting spatial expansion of cropland in Gambella is shown in Figure 3, together with the actual
2 For further information
Omar@cadmatrixeng.com
melku@cadmatrixeng.com
Gambella agricultural land report 2014
cropland. Figure 3 shows that expansion is predominantly identified in the north and west of
Gambella. PROMET simulates the average potential yield of maize in rain-fed agriculture in the
LIR 30 and HIR 30 scenarios to be 2.9 t ha−1 and 7.5 t ha−1, respectively. In HII 30, irrigation
increases the average maize yields from 7.5 to 7.7 t ha−1. Average sorghum yield in the LIR 30
and HIR 30 scenarios is around 2.0 and 4.0 t ha−1, respectively. At the same time in HII 30
irrigation increases the average yield of sorghum from 4.0 t ha−1 to 4.3 t ha−1. Average sesame
seed yield in the LIR 30 and HIR 30 scenarios is around 0.6 and 0.8 t ha−1, respectively. At the
same time in HII 30 irrigation increases the average yield of sorghum from 0.8 t ha−1 to 0.93 t
ha−1. Average green mug yield in the LIR 30 and HIR 30 scenarios is around 0.7 and 0.9 t ha−1,
respectively. At the same time in HII 30 irrigation increases the average yield of sorghum from
0.9 t ha−1 to 0.11 t ha−1.
Similarly, in LIR 50 and HIR 50, average maize yield in the region is 2.9 t ha−1 and 7.5 t ha−1
respectively, whereas in HII 50 average maize yield is around 7.7 t ha−1. On the other hand, in
LIR 50 and HIR 50, average sorghum yield is 2.1 t ha−1 and 4.1 t ha−1 respectively; while in
HII 50 average sorghum yield is 4.3 t ha−1.
Figure 3
The result indicates that the average yield of maize, sorghum, sesame seed and green mug in HIR
30 and HIR 50, as also in HII 30 and HII 50.does not show any significant difference.
Zone in Gambella
It is estimated that in 2017 Gambela Region's population was approximately 400,000 (Central
Statistical Agency, 2013), and the Region has four administrative Zones: Agnewak-Zone,
Nuwer-Zone, Mezhenger-Zone, and Etang Special Zone. Within these four Zones, there are 13
Woredas.
Abobo is a woreda in Gambela Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Agnewak Zone, Abobo is bordered
on the southeast by the Majang Zone, on the south by Gog, on the southwest by Jor, on the
northwest by Itang special woreda, on the north by Gambela Zuria, and on the northeast by the
Oromia Region; part of its northern boundary is defined by the Alwero River. Abobo located
from major town 41Km far.
Development bank, national or regional financial institution designed to provide medium- and
long-term capital for productive investment, often accompanied by technical assistance, in poor
countries.
Out of a total of 600 developers in Gambella, 200 of them received loans from the DBE and the
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) to finance 206 projects, and before the DBE suspended
loans to the commercial farming sector earlier this year. They were issued with close to five
billion Birr in loans, to be disbursed over a certain period of years.
Corporate Credit Process (CCP) of DBE is the major lending unit of the Bank and through which
more than 75% of the total annual lending amount of the Bank has been granted to borrowers.
However, failure of projects financed by the Process is becoming a big problem. According to
the annual performance report of DBE (2013), 72% of the projects financed by the Process were
under failure category. Hence the major causes of failure of projects identify the major causes.
The project is under DBE Gambella district located from major town Abobo 15Km far. Project
having 400ha and 398.16 developed land but it have poor ware house and employer dorm
construction.
We arrive on Yakob Mulugeta agro development project employer harvesting sesame seed.
Figure 6 Yakob Mulugeta agro development ware house and scrap machine
The project is under DBE Gambella district located from major town Abobo 18Km far. Project
having 500ha and 103.7 developed land but project don’t have ware house and employer dorm.
We arrive on Hashenge agro development project all developed land grow grass.
The project is under DBE Gambella district located from major town Abobo 19Km far. Project
having 1000ha and 295.5ha developed land but project having ware house, employer dorm and
office. Project tractor and Toyota Pickup car slightly on good condition
We arrive on Keti agro development project all developed land grow grass and employer live in
dorm.
The project is under DBE Gambella district located from major town Abobo 28Km far. Project
having 1000ha and 701ha developed land but project having ware house and Project having
tractor and cultivator slightly on good condition.
Comparisons of 4 Projects
11 For further information
Omar@cadmatrixeng.com
melku@cadmatrixeng.com
Gambella agricultural land report 2014
Development land in %
60000
50000
40000
Yakob agro project
30000 Hashenge agro project
Keti agro project
20000 Tekeste kifle agro project
10000
0
maize sorghum sesame green
seed mung
35000000
30000000
25000000
5000000
0
capital neede
160000000
140000000
120000000
100000000
Yakob agro project
80000000 Hashenge agro project
Keti agro project
60000000 Tekeste kifle agro project
40000000
20000000
0
Maize soughrum seasame seed green mung
Summery
Note: - for further research and detail agricultural recommendation the team will be visit other
site or different land from Gambella region.