Liya and Kidus have been seen together for a while

Liya and Kidus have been seen together for a while.

Reforms to increase farmers' benefits in Oromia region are yielding results - Ato Shimelis Abdisa 

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The President of the Oromia region, Shimelis Abdisa, said that reforms to increase farmers' benefits in the region are yielding results.

The Oromia regional government has handed over 1,402 agricultural tractors to farmers and associations in Shashemene town, West Arsi zone.

According to Ato Shimelis Abdisa, effective reform projects that have benefited farmers have been underway. 

He indicated that the agricultural sector is recording growth by improving practices that previously hindered the economic growth of farmers.

For example, he mentioned that tractors and other agricultural equipment used to be heavily taxed when imported from abroad, but now they have been able to import agricultural equipment tax-free.

He also mentioned that the farmers of the region have been provided with the opportunity to obtain agricultural equipment on credit.

Deputy Head of the Regional Agriculture Bureau, Ato Beriso Feyisa, said that agricultural mechanization is one of the activities being implemented with great attention in the region.

He mentioned that there has been a change in production and productivity growth in the works carried out since 2012.

He mentioned that so far, more than 3,500 tractors have been delivered to farmers, associations and others through the Kena Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing Company in Shashemene, and that there are currently 8,000 tractors in the region.

Among the farmers who received tractors, Kara Dabatcha, a resident of Dire Woreda in Borena Zone, pointed out that ten farmers are working on more than 20 hectares of land in Kuta, and they are still plowing with oxen.

The tractor we have just received will save our energy and time, and allow us to sow at the right time and be productive, he said.

In the Abaya district of the West Guji zone, the chairman of the Hawi Abaya Association, Yevgen Ayen Alemayehu, said that they are cultivating various crops and vegetables on 35.5 hectares of land for ten years.

He said that they have been renting tractors so far and said that the tractor we have now received will inspire us in our work, EZA reported.

The handover ceremony was attended by senior officials of the region, including Ato Shimelis Abdisa, farmers and invited guests.