FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO ETHIOPIA

Food production, markets and prices
• Overall 2007 Meher cereal and pulse production is estimated to be about 7 percent above the previous year’s post-harvest estimates – the fourth consecutive good harvest. Using a conservative estimate for 2008 Belg production, total domestic availability of cereal and pulses for 2008 is estimated at some 22 million tonnes. This exceeds estimated aggregate domestic requirements even allowing for a very substantial increase in estimated annual per capita consumption (to 196 kg of cereals and pulses in cereal equivalent terms) and a substantial quantity of informal cross-border exports.

• Ethiopia has experienced unprecedented economic growth since 2002 and gross domestic product has risen by 48 per cent in real terms as a result of substantial public spending and investment as well as private investment drawing upon domestic funds, increasing amounts of remittances from abroad and domestic credit. As a result, the general consumer price index has risen steadily. Food prices have risen
faster than non-food prices in the last few years and the available evidence indicates that this is due to a ‘classic’ price inflation phenomenon and to changes in the behaviour of surplus farmers and consumers rather than to rent-seeking strategies and practices by traders. On the contrary, the increased fluidity and efficiency of domestic markets for basic commodities have mitigated the food price increases. Nevertheless, the exceptional rise in food prices, coupled with strong market dependence among poorer
households, does raise serious access issues for the rural and urban poor.

• Given the aggregate domestic food supply, and the fact that grain prices still remain below those of most surrounding markets, there is scope for carefully managed local purchases to meet the some or all of the needs of food-insecure people. Conversely, importing substantial amounts of food (at greater cost) would meet the food assistance requirements of the most food-insecure. However, this addition to domestic supply would create a greater disparity between domestic and over-the-border prices, which would increase incentives for outflows of grain. The policy choice, therefore, comes down to two main options: public resources can be spent either for the benefit of surplus producers and needy consumers
(through a mix of local purchases and imports) or for the benefit of needy consumers as well as those involved in informal cross-border outflows (through sole reliance on imports for all requirements). More..

Africa In The Spotlight
Connecting the world
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• "Over the past three years, there has been an upsurge in infrastructure and service expansion, with the present government committed to getting the developing country wide open for business and its citizens 100% linked up with telecommunications by 2010"  says Juneydi Saddo Minister of Transportation and Communication. More...

As I remember..........
by
 Elizabeth Makonnen

Did you know that our Chairman was interviewed by ETV, Waltainfo and other legitimate and licensed Medias in Ethiopia? Here is the link for Amharic Text.

Somali surprise at Ethiopia aid
Ethiopian troops in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, have distributed food aid bought with their own salaries. More....
Comments: Contrary to what Amnesty International claims about Ethiopian Soldiers, the Ethiopian Soldiers are distributing food by buying with their own salaries. Go figure that out!!!

Ministry refutes hearsay ''Ethiopian territory given to Sudan''
Addis Ababa, May 11, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - The ministry of foreign affairs said some mass media and irresponsible bodies have been disseminating groundless information by saying that the government has given a part of Ethiopia’s territory to Sudan.  More..

Interview of EPRDF-SF Chairman with Walta Info.


EPRDF Supporters' Forum carrying out advocacy works to enable Ethiopians in Diaspora play part in dev’t works here
by
waltainfo
Addis Ababa, May 10, 2008 (WIC) – EPRDF Supporters' Forum said it has been undertaking advocacy works so as to enable Ethiopians and foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin in the U.S play their part in the development works underway in the country. More...

EPRDF Support Forum Denounces Amnesty International Smear Campaign on
Ethiopia.
(May 08, 2008):-EPRDF-SF vehemently denounces and rejects the smear campaign
being purported by Amnesty International on our peace loving country, Ethiopia, and on
our humane and highly disciplined Defense Forces. More...

Why Do EPRDF-SF support EPRDF?
Of course not blindly. It is because of how EPRDF transformed the country from 0 to where the country is now in the following areas: Education, Health, Potable water, Irrigation, Agriculture, etc. Read what has been achieved under the leadership of EPRDF. For those who believe Ethiopia is ruined and destroyed, we challenge you to look at the facts and numbers attached.
More......

World Bank Launches New Assistance Strategy for Ethiopia
Aims to support ‘dual take-off’ in economic growth and basic services

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2008—The World Bank today launched a new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Ethiopia.  The strategy covers the period July 2008 – June 2011 and aims to help Ethiopia sustain its strong performance in economic growth and basic service delivery in recent years. More...

ABETTING TERRORISM
(THE QATAR-SOMALI & ERITREAN CONNECTION)
(EPRDF-SF Research Team 04/25/08):What prompted the Ethiopian government to stop diplomatic relations with Qatar? It is this kind of inquiry that led to digging out information to the alliance of forces that work laboriously to undermine Ethiopia’s regional stability.. It is only through careful investigation that one will be able to comprehend why the Ethiopian More....

Ethiopia launches commodities exchange
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopia on Thursday launched a commodities exchange market, aimed at boosting fair trade and stabilising its food market. More....

Ethiopian rebel leaders arrested
Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's Ogaden rebels on Thursday condemned the arrest of two of their top leaders by the authorities of Somalia's northern breakaway Puntland region More..

Houston International Festival
Out of Africa
by Jim and Lynda Guidry
Friday, April 18, 2008

The Houston International Festival has officially begun.  Masters of ceremony included television news anchors from seven Houston Television stations. More.....


 EPRDF-SF Condemns Terrorist Action in Addis Ababa


It is with profound sadness we hear the news that a coordinated bomb blast planted by
terrorist groups at two privately owned gas stations has killed three and wounded dozens
of innocent civilians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. More....

The First Of Its Kind In Africa, Ethiopia Launches Commodity Exchange Market
Addis Ababa—Ethiopia opens a commodity exchange this week, the first of its kind in Africa. The exchange will trade in six commodities: coffee, sesame, haricot beans, teff, wheat and maize. More...

Stuck in Somalia
By Jason McLure | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Apr 10, 2008



Prime Minister Melesse Zenawi (right) greets U.S. President George W. Bush at a G8 summit in Germany. (South African President Thabo Mbeki stands between them.)

Ethiopia's prime minister discusses how the U.S. helped his country oust the Islamists from Mogadishu.More....