Holistic landscape management is a hot topic these days. The quality of small farmers' living conditions in developing countries often depend on good landscape management. The holistic landscape management is focused on the introduction of anti-erosion techniques and measures. Our project 'Implementation of holistic management and Climate Smart Agriculture in the Baso River catchment, Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia' is in line with the core of development cooperation program for Ethiopia 2012-2017 in terms of the agricultural sector, more specifically the protection of soil managed by local small farmers. The project thus responds to the development needs defined by governmental strategies included in the 'Growth and Transformation Plan' that highlights the need to reduce the impact of water erosion and to develop an irrigation system as a food security measure.

The anti-erosion measures are also in the center of the successful project Irrigation for Agricultural Production. Material and technical support as well as other services that can be used in favour of local agricultural production via suitable technologies that adjust irrigation regime in the form of anti-erosion measures, rainwater collection and sustainable cooperative farming are at the heart of this project. 85 % of planned technical anti-erosion measures together with biological measures such as grass sowing and seeding of the soil-firming plant Cajanus cajan have already been implemented in the areas of Angacha and Kacha Bira. Dozens of water retention ditches and reinforced terrace edges will ensure growing of the traditional cereal tef. The farmers from respective areas attend trainings on various maintenance techniques such as plant nutrition, soil and water sources management, plant diseases and their treatment as well as the agricultural production for the local market.

Ethiopia faces a wide range of developing issues and the soil degradation as a result of erosion is only one of many. Hence, the TV program Objektiv introduced a country with authentic culture and many natural beauties, you may watch it using this link.

In the gallery you see pictures taken during the monitoring visit in Ethiopia.