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Harar February 05/2013 More than 184,700 farmers are developing over 85,000 hectares land through irrigation in 17 woredas of East Hararge Zone, Oromia State in the current dry season, the zonal agriculture office said.
Irrigation development expert with the office, Yusuf Sufi told ENA Monday that the farmers will cultivate various crops, vegetables and fruits on the stated area of land by harnessing rivers and using water wells.
Yusuf said the farmers are utilizing over 280,000 cubic meters compost and more than 23,840 quintals artificial fertilizers to develop the stated area of land.
Over 11 million quintals output is expected to be harvested from the area developed through irrigation.
The farmers are estimated to earn over 2.2 billion Birr from sale of the output.
The area of land being developed through irrigation surpasses by 20,000 hectares while the amount of output exceeds by two million quintals that of same time last year.
Over 1.8 billion Birr was secured from sale of different crops and vegetables cultivated on 98,000 hectares land through irrigation last year in the zone.
Farmers engaged in the irrigation development, Ahmed Mohammed, Yasmin Ali and Kelil Ousman said that they managed to improve their livelihoods through engaging in irrigation development since the last five years.
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