Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced that about 85 percent of the 7.5 billion seedlings planted during the rainy season of the past Ethiopian Fiscal Year have survived and are thriving.
As part of its ambitious plan to plant 50 billion trees in two phases of the Green Legacy Initiative, Ethiopia planted 32.5 billion saplings thus far in the first phase and the first year of the second phase.
Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente said about 85 percent of the total 7.5 billion seedlings planted during last year’s rainy season have survived.
Out of these 7.5 billion seedlings planted, 57 percent were mixed forest and fruit bearing saplings, while the remaining 43 percent were planted for environmental protection and watershed development, he noted.
Emphasizing the rigorous monitoring system in place, with biannual surveys conducted to ensure the well being of the seedlings, the minister explained that the exploration work will be done after the end of summer and winter months.
Accor
dingly, as per the first inspection conducted after the rainy season, 85 percent of the seedlings planted were approved to be survived.
“The survival rate assessments have to be conducted twice; first immediately after the rainy season (summer) and second after the end of the winter. In the first round of the biannual survey after the rainy season, we found about 85% survival rate for seedlings planted during the previous rainy season. Maintaining or even surpassing this rate in future plantings is crucial.’
Stressing that the ministry will work to increase the approval rate by continuously carrying out care activities, Girma stated that the second exploration work will be done after the completion of the winter season.
Looking ahead, the minister revealed that preparations for the upcoming rainy season are well underway.
In collaboration with regional authorities, a plan to cultivate 9 billion seedlings is in place, leveraging the established nurseries and practices developed over the past years, he stat
ed.
Girma acknowledged the varying preparation times for different species, particularly indigenous trees, and assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure optimal planting conditions.
With Ethiopia aiming to plant 17.5 billion trees in the next three years, the Green Legacy Initiative is rapidly approaching to meet its ambitious target of planting 50 billion saplings, according to him.
As Ethiopia proudly shared its Green Legacy experience at the recent COP28 Summit, the world is taking notice of this remarkable initiative, offering hope for a greener and more sustainable future for all.
Source:Ethiopian News Agency
WINDHOEK: The Katutura State Hospital in Windhoek recorded 15 births on Christmas Day this year, of which nine are girls and six boys.
Mathew Herman, a Senior Midwife at the hospital said that a premature baby forms part of the group of babies born, noting that the baby was born through an emergency C-section as the mother had pre-eclampsia. Both the mother and baby are healthy, he added.
‘There was a small complication where a mother had to be admitted for an emergency c- section as she suffered from Pre-eclampsia, both mother and baby are healthy and out of danger. All the other babies are healthy,’ said Herman.
Angolan national 16-year-old Helena Ndilianu, who forms part of the group of mothers told this agency that she did not expect to have her baby boy on Christmas as she was told she was due at the end of the month.
A first-time mother, Ndilianu who hails from Oshivemba in Angola said she will be taking her newborn back to Angola.
Namibian Shiweyahafo Ndeukanawa, aged 39, said she expected to give
birth on 27 December.
The unemployed mother of six told Nampa she was blessed to have given birth on Christmas Day.
‘I feel happy and lucky to have given birth on Christmas day, I thought the baby would be born in January,’ said Charlotte Kubas, another mother who hails from Groot Aub.
She said her baby boy was born healthy however, his weight decreased from 2.1 kg to 1.7kg since birth. Kubas further told Nampa that the ambulance drivers suggested the name ‘Jesus’ for her baby.
Registered nurse, Martha Moongo said she enjoyed her Christmas with the mothers and the babies they received.
‘It’s amazing to have a Christmas baby because we can celebrate together with the mothers,’ said, Moongo.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency