Local Feedback Meeting in Ethiopia: WATDEV continues to strive the adoption of Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Leveraging the success of the recent Regional Workshop in Ethiopia, the WATDEV project (“Climate Smart Water Management and Sustainable Development for Food and Agriculture in East Africa”), funded by the European Union through the DeSIRA Initiative conducted the Local Feedback Meeting on 5 and 6 December 2025, at Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The two-day event was organised by the local partner Water & Land Resource Centre (WLRC), in collaboration with ASARECA, CIHEAM-Bari, and in the presence of AICS Cairo. Moreover, a field visit for experience sharing was organized in the Holeta area. The event focused on innovative agricultural techniques, including the preparation and application of liquid vermicompost fertilizer and hydroponic farming systems for strawberries as a method to combat Fusarium wilt. Participants also exchanged best practices for commercial avocado farm management.

Bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders: farmers, Water Users Associations, farmer cooperatives, community leaders, and researchers with WATDEV partners, the Local Feedback Meeting aimed to discuss and validate the Best Management Practices (BMPs) scenarios identified for Ethiopia, ensuring their coherence with the local priorities and real needs on the ground based on farmers’ practical experience.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Honorable Ato Tewachew Abebe, the Member of Parliament representing the constituency, followed by Dr. Gaetano Ladisa, WATDEV Project Manager at CIHEAM-Bari. Dr. Ladisa emphasised that WATDEV is more than a research initiative, it is a partnership for change, connecting farmers, researchers, and decision-makers to shape the future of agricultural and water management in Ethiopia and beyond.

Ms. Concetta Bianco, WATDEV Project Coordinator at AICS Cairo, provided the participants with an overview about WATDEV project latest updates, sharing recent achievements and upcoming implementation steps. While Mr. Moses Odeke, from ASARECA, outlined the meeting’s objectives, stressing the importance of learning from local experiences to validate feasibility findings and support the development of practical BMP implementation protocols.

The technical part of the day started with ISRIC presenting the Feasibility Studies findings, analysing simulated BMPs scenarios by the modelling team as well as providing detailed feedback on the indicators and assumptions used in the model. The presentation detailed the indicators and assumptions used and highlighted the three BMPs selected for Ethiopia: agroforestry, composting, and strengthening of Water Users’ Association (WUA). These practices have shown strong potential to improve productivity and crop quality. An interactive Q&A session followed, allowing farmers to share their practical experience and clarify technical aspects.

Several Ethiopian farmers have already adopted these BMPs following targeted training activities, achieving remarkable results. One inspiring example is Tringo Molla Abiye, a woman head of household who significantly increased her productivity and income thanks to improved compost management. “This project has given me a new life,” she said.

Her story along with the active engagement of local communities, underscores the added value of WATDEV’s participatory approach, developing tools that are scientifically robust, yet practical and accessible to those facing daily challenges of water scarcity and climate change.

The Local Feedback Meetings reaffirmed WATDEV’s commitment to co-creating solutions with local stakeholders, ensuring that climate-smart water management strategies are both effective and sustainable. By integrating scientific research with community-driven insights, WATDEV continues to pave the way for resilient agricultural systems in East Africa.

Photo Album