H.E Ato Abay Woldu, President of the Tigray National State, handing over the trophy to LIVES’ Regional Coordinator, Dr Gebremedihin Woldewahid during Farmers’ Festival (photo credit: ILRI\Dawit Weldemariam)
The Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project was honored with a trophy award by the Tigray Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BoARD) during the 8thRegional Farmers Annual Festival that was held on May 28th, 2015 at the regional capital city of Mekelle. H.E Ato Abay Woldu, President of the Tigray Regional State handed over the trophy to LIVES’ Regional coordinator, Dr. Gebremedhin Woldewahid.The festival was held in the presence of high level federal and regional government officials including H.E. Ato Tefera Derbew, Minister of Agriculture (MoA) and H.E Ato Kiros Bitew, Vice President of the Tigray Regional State and Head of the Tigray Regional BoARD.
LIVES received this award for introducing new technologies for market oriented livestock and irrigated commodities, promoting new and innovative methods of extension and input supply services, capacity building of farmers and public sector staff, and promoting innovative agricultural knowledge management system.Contributions to strengthen the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) was another consideration for giving the award. Recently the LIVES team members were also awarded certificates by the regional government for their contributions in improving smallholders’ access to improved dairy genetics through introduction and implementationof hormone assisted oestrus synchronization and mass insemination technology. The Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) project, predecessor to LIVES, had also received four awards in a row for its contributions in research and development in the region.
In addition to the farmers selected as development heroes and heroines, more than 700 participants attended the festival. Zonal and district administrators, regional and district BoARD heads and senior extension staff, and development and research partners also took part in the festival.
