We bring farmers together to learn new ideas, address challenges, and share their collective knowledge. With new skills and knowledge, farmers lower their costs and increase crop yield, lifting families out of poverty and malnutrition.

Led by Workineh Genetu, Project Leader and Ethiopia ’s Farmer of the Year from 2007 – 2010, Farmers ’ Associations provide a forum for farmers to learn and share ideas – building a network of support across villages. Each association is comprised of 50 farmers (both men and women) who form as a legal association. This allows the association members to experience advantages such as buying seeds and organic fertilizers which they often can ’t do on their own.

When an association is first organized, Project Ethiopia provides each farmer with five high quality sickles and supports each member to set up a savings account. Farmers also have the opportunity to select from a “menu ” of items such as beehives or gardening equipment. Together, these tools and supplies support higher yields, more efficient harvesting, and, ultimately, improvements in family income and food security.

Once off the ground, Farmers ’ Associations meet once a month to share experiences and learn about improved farming practices from other farmers and agricultural instructors. For example, association meetings have been used:

• to disseminate information on the harmful effects of many pesticides and herbicides frequently used on Ethiopian farms.
• to discuss how these chemicals damage the local bee population which will have a devastating impact on future crop production.

When there is urgent need to disseminate information such as drought or prolonged rain or government “promotion ” of harmful pesticides, the Farmers ’ Association members relay information to the approximately 300 farmers in their Association area. Churches have been willing to allow Farmers ’ Association members to announce important information during church services so as to keep all farmers informed of best practices.

Why does Workineh promote Farmers’ Associations when he has already been so successful on his farm?  In his words, “You will be like one tall tree – all the animals and nature will bump it and weaken it until even a cow can pull it down.  Instead, it is better to be a tall tree with many trees around it and just grow taller as they grow- like the peaks of a pyramid.”