The platform, ‘Sustainable Land Management (SLM)’, has been established to join forces of all partners involved in rural development and protection of natural resources in Ethiopia.

Speaking at the launching of SLM, President Girma Woldegiorgis said severe land degradation is a major problem in Ethiopia, a country known for its rich biodiversity.

With the current level of land degradation in place, the country will be under critical condition, said the President.

The president said the government has put in place policies and strategies that make environmental sustainability as an integral part of the rural development program.

State Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD), Ahmed Nasir on his part told journalists that the platform was established with a view to alleviating land degradation and food insecurity.

Director of the Ethio-German Program for Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources for Improved Food Security (SUN), Doctor Andrea Bham also said SLM is paving the way to direct efforts and resources of the public, government and donor organizations in an efficient and timely manner.

Director of World Bank Ethiopia, Kenichi Ohashi told ENA that the Bank is to provide an initial budget of 30 million US dollar to run the platform.

Funded by various development partners including the World Bank, German Development Cooperation, FAO and World Food Program, the program will be undertaken on over 1.77 million hectares of land . Over 2.1 million households are expected to benefit from the program.

R2:00-2:57p.m

E: 3:32 p.m.

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