Addis Ababa: Water development programs implemented in Borena Zone of Ethiopia's Oromia Regional State has catalyzed the transformation of local pastoralists from aid recipients to produces. It is to be recalled that the recurrent drought that has prevailed in Borena zone has inflicted serious damage on the livestock resources. Effective measures taken by the government in cooperation with citizens during the onset of drought in the zone has helped to reduce the scale of disaster that could have prevailed in the area. Various development programs have been launched to address the effects of the drought situation in a more sustained manner, it was learned. Water development projects were among the initiatives implemented in the area aimed at reducing the effects of the recurrent drought in a more sustainable manner and benefit the pastoralist in the zone. Head of Borena Zone Water Development Office, Dida Cherfole told ENA that urgent measures were taken to develop water resources in the zone aimed at co mbating drought in a more effective and sustainable manner. The government is running these development programs in cooperation with the private sector enabling the pastoralist to sell extra products saved from their consumption on local markets. According to the head, the water development projects that were launched in the zone has helped to resolve potable water needs of the population in the region and their livestock availing clean water in the area and resolving the daily treks and hardships they use to encounter for search of water traveling up to 30 KMs from their residential areas. Local pastoralists Huka Dadi and Sheik Abdella told ENA that projects developed by the government to reduce the devastating effects of drought have relieved them from upcoming worries from scarcity of water. Various water development projects established in various districts of the zone including check dams have set conducive situation for animal breeding and agricultural development, they indicated. The pastoralists said these achievements have helped them to start farming and animal breeding after they have lost hundreds of livestock during the long dry season but have now managed to harvest 200 to 300 quintals of grain per hectare gradually emerging from recipients of wheat to produces, the pastoralists added. Deputy Head of Borena Zone Agriculture Bureau, Tariku Aschenaki, remarked that the pastoralists in the zone have started engaging in various agricultural development programs. Tariku added that the projects developed in the zone have enabled the pastoralists to have access to potable water, animal feed, crop production, horticulture development and other agricultural activities. Chief Administrator of Borena Zone, Abdulselam Wariye disclosed that various development projects were launched to curtail the effects of recurrent drought in the zone in a more sustainable manner. According to him, complaints regarding the delaying of the construction of some of the projects were resolve through the support provided to the zone by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Chief Administrator of Oromia region. He added that the water development projects, whose works have been completed, have helped to resolve multi-faceted development challenges in the zone. Abduselam called upon local and international developers to invest on various development projects from which local community members and the nation can benefit. Source: Ethiopian News Agency