A publication of the agricultural mechanization forum – Ethiopia

Conflicts in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions have wreaked havoc the natural resources, economic infrastructure, and social ties of affected areas, as well as the country as a whole. The conflict has severely damaged the agricultural sector, which provides a living for more than 80% of the population, leaving them displaced with limited food and livelihood options. Thus, agriculture revival should be one of the priority post-conflict recovery strategies. Agricultural mechanization can help in this effort by alleviating labor and oxen shortages, improving operational timeliness, and spurring agricultural modernization in the affected areas. This policy brief aims to provide policy advice to state and non-state actors on how to respond to the crisis with immediate life-saving interventions, as well as recover and rebuild conflict-affected areas using a “cope-rebuildtransform” approach, with a special focus on agricultural mechanization. Given the limited resources available, however, addressing all challenges at once and in a short period of time will be impossible. This necessitated a phased approach, as well as careful planning, prioritization, and sequencing of revival strategies to address both immediate needs and long-term solutions. Responses to farm household displacement, a lack of agricultural inputs and services, a lack of draft power and equipment, infrastructural damage, and financial shortages are among the proposed actions. Next to resettling displaced households and providing emergency coping mechanisms such as food aid, one of the urgent actions indicated in the policy brief is a rapid assessment of the affected areas to establish the extent of the damage to agricultural implements, draft power, machinery, and infrastructure. The policy brief underlines the importance of turning the conflict’s silver lining into opportunities for full farm mechanization in conflict-affected areas, so that they can serve as a model for agricultural mechanization development and transformation across the country.

Text in English