A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions (Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.) - Part I

This blog entry shares the stories of 15 ETH students who participated in a two-week field project to Southern Ethiopia from Nov. 16 to Dec. 1, 2019. The field project was co-organized with Arba Minch University (Ethiopia; 29 participating students) and KU Leuven (Belgium; 21 participating students). The field project is an integral part of the ETH MSc class “Tropical cropping systems, soils and livelihoods” (lecturers: Johan Six and Anett Hofmann, Sustainable Agroecosystems Group), offered in the master programs “Agroecosystem Sciences” and “Environmental Sciences” at D-USYS. The class guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems and food systems. During the field project students gained practical knowledge of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods by working in small international student teams that were immersed in seven rural towns. Students had the opportunity to be in direct contact with farmers and local representatives through interviews and field surveys on farms and were supported by 23 university staff members from all three participating universities. The task for the student teams was to assess the state of food and energy security in the seven towns where they stayed. The results were presented at Arba Minch University at the end of the field project.

Left: The study area of the Ethiopia field project 2019 was situated in the Gamo Gofa zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), approx. 450 km south of Addis Ababa.

Right: During one week of field work the students stayed in seven towns in the vicinity of the university town Arba Minch. The study locations were chosen to represent different agroecosystems at three altitude levels: Mirab Abaya, Lante and Chano are situated close to Lake Abaya in the lowlands (approx. 1200 m a.s.l.), Damble is a town in the midlands (approx. 1400 m a.s.l.), Gerese, Chencha and Dorze are in the higlands at an altitude between 2200 and 2700 m a.s.l. .

In this first post of the series, Vivienne, David, Zita and Johannes talk about irrigation systems and the challenge of soil erosion.

Mirab Abaya landscape (by Vivienne Oggier)

Photo: Vivienne Oggier

A place at the river Shefe at the border of the Village Mirab Abaya which our group visited together with many children of the village who guided us there. The aim was to see there whether irrigation water for banana plantations was diverted from the river in a sustainable way. Being there we realized that this place shows several very important aspects which shape the life in Mirab Abaya. In the very back the forest where the firewood is collected is visible. On the next two levels, one of many irrigated banana monoculture plantations stands on highly fertile, deep soil. Finally, in the foreground the Shefe river which allows the irrigation of all banana plantations and which delivers water for innovative projects in the village as onion fields or fish farming.

Shefe river (by David Vetterli)

Photo: David Vetterli

When I think about those two weeks in the south of Ethiopia, a lot of impressions, experiences and feelings come to my mind. Some of which are captured nicely in the picture above. At first, the huge agricultural potential in some parts of the country, which can be seen in the very deep layer of highly fertile soil. Deep green banana plantations and trees grow on that soil, right next to the river, which delivers water for the irrigation system. Second, how unsustainable the whole system is managed. The bananas are literally eroded away by the river. At last the fact, that you never go alone, no matter where. We were always followed by some kids or adults. This led to difficulties as well as lovely acquaintances.

Challenges in Damble (by Zita Sartori)

Photo: Zita Sartori

I took this picture the first day we visited Damble, as we went to see the gully. That day I was not only impressed by this devastating geomorphic phenomenon but above all by the warmth and curiosity of the inhabitants of Damble. This picture represents for me the two great challenges facing the survival of the village, namely erosion and population growth. Many other challenges threaten the food security of Damble, but I am confident that the enthusiasm and confidence that the inhabitants of Damble have shown us can help them find effective strategies to protect their wonderful natural and cultural heritage.  

Gully erosion (by Johannes Brunner)

Photo: Johannes Brunner

The village of Damble is situated in the midlands with limited access to the market, as there is no main road crossing the village. The people in the village are farming reasonable fertile land, with almost no external inputs due to lack of capital. To improve their yields an irrigation channel was built several years ago. This irrigation channel transformed itself to a gully which is shown in the picture. In average over the last two years more than five square meters of land per day where lost due to the erosion. Discovering the causes and impacts of the gully formation and further challenges in the area in student teams helped us to understand their agroecosystems and livelihood strategies better.

We are grateful for the financial support by the WFSC (Course Support Grant for WFSC members) to the field projects in 2019 (Ethiopia), 2018 (Kenya) and 2017 (Ethiopia).