Project Objectives and Implementation
Ethiopia | Transforming Wheat
Production Through Collaborative
Ag-Lime Governance
In Ethiopia’s critical wheat-growing region of Wolmera, a silent crisis threatened
both food security and livelihoods. Soil acidity had reached alarming levels,
affecting 56% of the area’s 1,150 hectares of farmland, and reducing wheat yields
by 50-100%. This dire situation prompted the ALP Ethiopia Team to launch an
innovative initiative focused on agricultural lime (ag-lime) as the key solution for
soil reclamation.
The project began with clear objectives: to strengthen the ag-lime supply system,
establish a functional multi-stakeholder platform, and design an efficient
distribution system with strong youth involvement by November 2024. These goals
directly supported Ethiopia’s National Wheat Flagship Program for productivity
growth and import substitution.
A comprehensive assessment formed the foundation of the intervention. The team
conducted focus group discussions with farmers, cooperatives, and development
agents, complemented by Key Informant Interviews with agricultural officers. Field
observations at demonstration plots provided visible evidence of lime’s impact,
creating compelling cases for adoption.