Addis Ababa: Oromia region President Shimelis Abdisa announced a focus on maximizing rainy-season farming and expanding dry-season irrigated wheat cultivation to bolster agricultural production and contribute to export initiatives this Ethiopian Fiscal Year year. Shimelis has also mentioned about the successful efforts carried out during the concluded fiscal year to ensure peace in the region through a coordinated law enforcement activities and commendable achievements in its development endeavors aimed at realizing the multifaceted benefits of the people, Chefe Oromia (Oromia Council) commenced its 7th regular meeting today in Adama city. Oromia region President Shimelis Abdisa on the occasion presented the regional government's last year performance report and plan for this Ethiopian Fiscal Year. The president outlined plans to cultivate 12.4 million hectares of Meher farmland during the rainy and dry seasons, aiming to produce over 379 million quintals of crops. Additionally, a target of 163 million quintals is set for dry season irrigation wheat on 4 million hectares of land for this year, he added. To achieve these goals, Shimelis pointed out, the regional government plans to provide farmers with 16.8 million quintals of fertilizer, 1.8 million quintals of improved seeds, and 3.7 million liters of herbicides and pesticides. More focus will be given to the production of coffee and animal resources to support national export efforts, the president underscored. According to him, this includes distributing 2.5 million improved bull breeds to farmers and pastoralists to bolster animal resources output. The plan also includes distributing 1.5 million modern beehives and 198 million pullet and day-old chicks to modernize the poultry practices. Stating the plan to attract investors with a combined capital exceeding 200 billion Birr, aiming to create job opportunities for 1.7 million citizens, Shimelis emphasized that the regional government aims for broad participation from farmers, herders, enterprises, and cooperatives in the sector. The president in his report indicated that the regional government has planned to create permanent job opportunities for 2.7 million citizens during this year. The regional administration has registered commendable achievements in its development endeavors aimed at realizing the multifaceted benefits of the people, he stated. Shimelis has also mentioned about the successful efforts carried out during the concluded fiscal year to ensure peace in the region through a coordinated law enforcement activities. He particularly stressed the strong law enforcement measures taken by the regional and federal governments in collaboration with the people to ensure sustainable peace. Reiterating that the administration remains open to peace, Shimelis invited anyone involved in destructive actions to resort this appeal for peace. Discussions are underway on the performance of last year and the plan for this year.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency