HERE IS MY HOME

Tigray is one of the driest regions of Ethiopia. In the past, even recently, catastrophic famines would occur again and again. People would flee to other countries and regions because they saw no opportunities for survival and no future for themselves and their children. Often, they had to walk hundreds of kilometers before they reached a place where food and drink were available. As beautiful as the landscape is, many mountains and valleys are completely dried up. The air shimmers above the parched earth. Here and there, single tufts or small saplings peek out from the sand.

Farmer Alem Desta Gebre lives in a valley about eighty kilometers north of the regional capital of Me'kele. "As a young man, there were no prospects for me, so I went to Saudi Arabia and worked there", explains the 56-year-old. Only two farmers lived with their families in the valley. The crop yields were not high enough. In Saudi Arabia, Gebre saved some money and went back to his homeland, but his life and those of his wife and five children were still characterized by deprivation. He could barely feed his family with the proceeds from the harvest. It was also dangerous when there was heavy rainfall in the summer months. There were also frequent floods and landslides. The few crops and vegetables that the dry soil could sustain were sometimes buried under the waves of water or slipping mountainsides. Cows and goats grazing on the slopes were thrown into the abyss.

Fertile soil out of dust and sand

In April 2014, World Vision began its long-term development work in several regions of Tigray. In the valley where Gebre lives, the children's charity organization was also active. Where just a few years ago only parched soil and sand could be seen, grass is now growing everywhere.

About 270 large truckloads of grass and hay are harvested in the valley during the summer months, which is sold on the market as cattle feed. A truck can transport about three tons of cattle feed. The mountain slopes are now protected by the farmers, so that goats and cattle can no longer dig out the young tree shoots. This method of regenerative reforestation is called FMNR (farmer-managed natural regeneration) and is based on the fact that existing healthy roots can sprout again from native trees. The method is cheap and works extremely fast. The advantage is that the trees that are native to the region and adapted to the climate will return.

In the valley, World Vision and its inhabitants are implementing several methods of revegetation. In addition to the FMNR method, rainwater is systematically diverted into catch basins. Dams and terraces on the slopes ensure that the flow of the rainwater is stopped. The water accumulates in small collecting basins and can therefore seep into the soil. Valuable nutrients accumulate behind the dams and in the collecting basins. The valuable soil can be used as a natural fertilizer in the fields. With the aid of canals and pumps, the water is channeled into the fields, supplying adequate moisture for various vegetable varieties, such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and cabbages.

Green valleys feed many families

Today, 132 farmers use the valley to grow grass, grain and vegetables. While in the past, only three hectares of land could be used, now almost 20 hectares are available, with the future potential for 38 hectares.

Migration is no longer an issue for Gebre. "For me, this is now like Saudi Arabia", he stresses. "My children and I will not leave here. We are all doing so well that we can stay here."

300 to 400 years ago, about 60 percent of Ethiopia was covered in woodland. About ten years ago, it was only about three percent. Much has already been accomplished, as this figure is said to have increased to more than ten percent since then.

The Ethiopian government has set an ambitious goal. As part of the Africa Initiative AFR100, the country plans to re-plant 15 million hectares of land. All in all, the initiative has set itself the goal of restoring 2030 million hectares of degraded land. 22 African countries are now involved.

In Tigray, there are more than 2000 valleys and canyons where re-greening is possible - a huge amount of potential. Famine could be a thing of the past.