Bekelech’s Journey and the Future of Women Farmers

 In the quiet highlands of Darga Kebele, deep in Kembata Zone, in the Central Ethiopia Regional State, Wro Bekelech Anitu has worked her land with enduring strength and persistent hope. A widow and mother of seven, she has long cultivated her two hectares not for profit, but for survival. For years, her carefully gathered harvests were lost to fire, consumed by rodents, or sold hastily at low prices to meet urgent household needs.

But on 24 June 2025, Bekelech stood before a national audience at Addis Ababa’s Skylight Hotel—honored as a model farmer and recognized as the voice of a new chapter in Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation. She was celebrated at the “She Stores – She Gains” workshop, a national platform promoting the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) as a tool to unlock finance, improve storage, and empower smallholder women farmers across the country.

Through the WRS, Bekelech now stores her grain in a certified warehouse, preserves its market value, and accesses short-term credit using her harvest as collateral—a financial mechanism she once believed was never meant for someone like her.

“Now I can store my harvest. I can wait. I sell when prices are fair. And I have hope again,” she shared. “I now have a TIN number, a land certificate, and all the documents banks ask for. But still—there are long procedures, delays, and too many steps. We do everything we’re told, but the system isn’t moving fast enough for women like me.”

Her story drew heartfelt applause—not only for its honesty, but for what it symbolized. Bekelech’s journey embodies the rationale behind Ethiopia’s scale-up of the WRS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and AGRA: to modernize rural markets, improve livelihoods, and close the gender gap in agricultural finance.

At the event, Mr Tarekegne Shibeshi, Head of Market Infrastructure and Marketing Facility Desk at MoTRI, emphasized the system’s alignment with Ethiopia’s Ten-Year Development Plan, which aims to strengthen value chains and drive inclusive rural growth.

“Over 2.2 billion Birr in loans have already been accessed through the WRS by actors across the agricultural value chain,” he stated. “This is not just a financing tool for women—it’s a pathway to economic prosperity, especially for women whose labor has long been undervalued.”

Yet Bekelech remains an exception. Today, few WRS loan recipients are women. The barriers they face are systemic and deeply embedded—rooted in restrictive gender norms, institutional blind spots, and structural exclusion.

In many communities, social norms often constrain women’s financial decision-making power. Banking systems continue to favor conventional, asset-heavy collateral requirements—rendering women ineligible due to limited access to immovable assets. Even when eligible, women face gaps in awareness, outreach, and financial services that rarely communicate through channels accessible to them.

“No one explained that I could use my crops as collateral,” Bekelech said. “No one came—until recently. We only heard about it through neighbors.”

There is also a persistent capacity gap. Most women lack training in financial literacy, loan negotiation, and business planning—skills essential to navigating the WRS, managing repayment timelines, and building long-term creditworthiness. Even with documentation and eligibility, many lack proximity, confidence, or timely support.

Dr Yihenew Zewdie, AGRA Ethiopia Country Director, emphasized that systems must go beyond providing access—they must be intentionally redesigned to include those long left out.

“This system puts real economic power into the hands of producers,” he said. “But if it’s to work for women, our banks, cooperatives, and extension agents must unlearn the rules that kept women out for so long.”

As the workshop concluded, Mrs Meskerem Bahiru, Chief Executive Officer of Export Promotion and Market Facility at MoTRI, reinforced the government’s commitment to making the system work for all.

“This initiative is part of Ethiopia’s Ten-Year Development Plan—and we will implement it with synergy,” she affirmed. “Government, partners, cooperatives, and financial institutions must work together so that farmers like Wro. Bekelech are no longer the exception, but the norm.”

If Ethiopia’s Warehouse Receipt System is to fulfill its promise, it must do more than modernize infrastructure—it must unlock national productivity. Reaching rural women farmers is not merely a matter of equity; it is an economic necessity. When women gain secure access to certified storage and tailored finance, the impact is measurable: reduced post-harvest losses, improved price realization, greater resilience, and stronger participation in formal markets. Enabling women to store, plan, and trade effectively increases household incomes, stabilizes rural economies, and drives inclusive GDP growth.

This is not social spending—it is a high-return investment in Ethiopia’s economic transformation.

She stores.

She gains.

And through her, Ethiopia grows.

In the heart of Ethiopia’s verdant highlands lies Jimma — a region celebrated not only for the savour of its coffee but as a living symbol of ecological richness and cultural heritage. For centuries, Jimma and Bunno Bedele Zones in Oromia Regional State have sustained communities, nourished livelihoods, and fostered a harmonious relationship between people, food, and nature. Today, these fertile landscapes are witnessing a new agricultural awakening — one driven not by the aroma of coffee, but by the resolve of young farmers determined to redefine the future of Ethiopian agriculture.

Across rural Ethiopia, young people are reclaiming their rightful place in agriculture. In the rolling valleys of Jimma and Bunno Bedele, amid the mounting pressures of climate change, economic uncertainty, and rural inequality, a new generation of farmers is rising — not merely to till the soil, but to rebuild the crucial connection between the environment, livelihoods, and national development. Yet, the ecological balance that has sustained these communities for generations is under threat. Erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and limited access to modern agricultural technologies continue to erode productivity and resilience.

Recognising these challenges, the Government of Ethiopia, in collaboration with the AGRA, has launched a youth and women-centered agricultural transformation agenda to tackle systemic barriers and unlock the potential of young and women small holders farmers (Government of Ethiopia, 2020–2030; Ministry of Agriculture Ethiopia, 2023; AGRA, 2023).

Subtle yet meaningful changes are unfolding in these rural towns, driven by young people who are actively embracing their role in shaping the future. Rehima Gena, Project Coordinator at Lersha, is working to bridge the gap between youth unemployment and digital agriculture. “Many young people in these communities complete their education only to return home with no clear job prospects,” Rehima explains.

Through Lersha’s program, young graduates are being trained and equipped as Lersha Agents — essential connectors between smallholder farmers and digital agricultural services. “These young people are no longer waiting,” she stresses. “They are becoming part of the solution.”

The initiative does not stop at employment. It opens pathways to financial services, agribusiness opportunities, and technology-enabled advisory services. To date, 20 young people have completed the training, with an additional 50 preparing to follow — building on the success of 60 others who completed the program last year. Full-scale service delivery is expected to begin in April, marking an important step towards transforming the rural economy and empowering youth and farmers alike.

At the heart of this agricultural shift are young farmers like Saliya Aba Jihad, a 21-year-old from Nedi Gibe Woreda. “Agriculture changed my life,” she says. “But without proper training, access to inputs, or reliable markets, it is an uphill battle.” Miftahi Aba Maccaa, a

27-year-old from Dacha Nadhii wereda, echoes this sentiment. Farming has enabled him to build a livelihood, but he stresses the pressing need for greater recognition, resources, and skills. These young farmers are not passive recipients of aid; they are custodians of Ethiopia’s agricultural heritage and catalysts for rural economic development.

 However, their ambition is constrained by systemic challenges. Young farmers continue to face limited access to credit, quality seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and market information. Environmental shocks — droughts, floods, and pest outbreaks — further erode their progress. Development practitioners and agricultural economists alike observe that societal perceptions still frame farming as a career of last resort, deterring many young people from pursuing agriculture. In Ethiopia, over 28% of the youth population is unemployed, and only 13% of young people are engaged in agriculture as a primary occupation (FAO, 2022; Mastercard Foundation, 2024).

As agricultural experts and development specialists, we have witnessed first-hand that while young farmers demonstrate extraordinary resilience and ingenuity, their success cannot depend on individual effort alone. Meaningful progress requires coordinated, systemic change — a collective commitment by government institutions, the private sector, financial actors, and development partners to create an enabling environment. This sentiment is echoed by Ewunetu Hirko, agricultural expert in Oromia Regional State, who works with over 23,000 farmers in Jimma Zone. “Young farmers are adapting,” he says. “But without targeted training, tailored financial services, and strong support systems, their progress will remain limited.”

Unlocking the full potential of Ethiopia’s young farmers demands deliberate and strategic action. Youth-friendly financial services must be established. Access to affordable agricultural credit and quality inputs must be scaled up. Capacity development programs should equip young farmers with practical skills in climate-smart, market-oriented agriculture. Strengthening rural infrastructure and value chains is essential to enhance market access and competitiveness. Equally important, digital platforms and advisory services must connect young farmers to timely information, technology, and innovation. Above all, a concerted effort is needed to shift societal perceptions — positioning agriculture as a dignified, modern, and profitable career for Ethiopia’s youth.

The improvement unfolding in Jimma and Bunno Bedele Zones is not merely an agricultural project; it is an ecological, economic, and social awakening. These young farmers are reimagining their communities, blending ancestral knowledge with modern technologies, and laying the foundations for sustainable food systems. The Ethiopian Government’s Ten-Year Agricultural Development Plan (2020–2030), AGRA’s Ethiopia Strategic Plan (2023–2027), and a growing network of development partnerships provide a strong platform for this transformation. However, sustaining this momentum requires long-term investment, collaboration, and shared responsibility.

In places like Jimma and Bunno Bedele, something inspiring is taking root. A new generation of young farmers is stepping forward — bringing fresh ideas to the land while staying deeply connected to their communities. Youth-led innovations and cooperatives are gaining strength, and young women and men are beginning to speak up about their hopes for the future. Bit by bit, they are helping to reshape how farming is seen — not just as a tradition but as a pathway filled with promise and purpose.

Their ambition is not small. It is to build a future where farming is not a fallback option, but a respected, sustainable, and rewarding profession. It is to prove that agriculture can deliver prosperity without compromising the environment, and that rural communities can thrive when young people are empowered with the tools, resources, and recognition they deserve. From the highlands to the farmlands, a new agricultural future is taking root in Ethiopia — powered not only by policy but by the energy, ingenuity, and vision of young farmers like Saliya Aab Jihad and Miftahi Aba Maccaa. With determination and purpose, they cultivate more than crops; they nurture dignity, prosperity, and the seeds of lasting change. It calls for concerted action — to recognize, support, and invest in the young minds shaping Ethiopia’s tomorrow.

It began with a handshake—deliberate, optimistic, and quietly historic. Inside Nairobi’s PrideInn Azure Hotel, a quiet but transformative shift in East African trade was taking root. Across rows of negotiation tables, Ethiopian exporters and Kenyan pulses buyers engaged in structured, face-to-face talks. By day’s end, contracts worth more than USD 12.8 million had been signed on June 18, 2025. What unfolded was not just a business transaction—but a demonstration of what it means to bridge borders through beans.

The high-level Stakeholders Validation Workshop and Business-to-Business (B2B) Forum, convened by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) and strategically supported by AGRA, aimed to advance regional pulses trade between Ethiopia and Kenya. But its deeper ambition was more profound: to connect smallholder producers with formal markets, shift fragmented trade toward structure and transparency, and build commercial trust between neighboring economies.

Kenya’s Ministry of Trade, represented by Deputy County Commissioner Benson Kagunda, opened the forum with a message that captured the spirit of the occasion.

What we are witnessing here today is not just trade—it is trust,‖ she said. ―Borderlines should no longer divide markets, but connect opportunity.‖ Her words set the tone for two days of focused exchange where business cards were exchanged as eagerly as ideas, and contracts signed not as symbolic gestures, but as actionable commitments.

The economic logic was clear. Kenya faces an annual shortfall of over 200,000 metric tons of pulses, driven by growing domestic demand. Ethiopia, on the other hand, boasts a surplus of beans, renowned for quality but constrained by access. Historically, trade between the two countries has been hindered by mismatched quality and packaging standards, transport inefficiencies, a lack of certified warehousing at key border points like Moyale, and Ethiopia’s non-membership in the East African Community (EAC). This forum sought to turn that friction into flow.

Beyond the negotiation tables, the forum offered a rare opportunity for deeper engagement. The Ethiopian delegation embarked on a field visit to two of Kenya’s leading agribusinesses—Unibrain and Echemiplus. There, they observed the full food processing chain in motion the opportunity gave Ethiopian exporters to see how the product they shipped converted to final product and off course to meet actual buyers of their products apart from traders they deal in a daily bases.. Standing inside a cool, meticulously organized facility, Hyder Kemal, board member of the Ethiopian Pulses,

Oilseeds and Spices Processors–Exporters Association (EPOSEA) remarked quietly,

This is what we need, meeting actual users of our products and discuss challenges face to face to increase exporting with confidence.‖

The exposure was catalytic. It allowed the Ethiopian team to see not only the demand for their products but the standards expected by modern, formal buyers. The visit fuelled a vision of what’s possible with the right investment, policy support, and institutional coordination. It turned abstract talk of regional trade into a tangible business imperative.

Still, constraints were not ignored. Ethiopian exporters largely operate with 100kg sacks, incompatible with Kenya’s market preferences of 50Kg. Trucking standards differ significantly. Border infrastructure remains insufficient. Informal trade routes persist. And a lack of policy harmonization continues to frustrate exporters ready to compete. Hyder Kemal further explained, ―Our exporters are not short on product—they are short on predictability. This forum gave us space to raise the right issues. Now it is time to act.‖

In that call to action, the theme of bridging borders through beans returned—not just as a slogan, but as a strategy. Participants collectively urged their respective governments to reduce non trade barriers; harmonies trade standards, invest in border infrastructure, and accelerate Ethiopia’s alignment with AfCFTA, COMESA, and EAC frameworks. They called for regional policies that recognise agricultural trade not merely as economic activity, but as a lever for inclusive growth.

For AGRA, the forum reaffirmed its catalytic role—not as a market participant, but as a connector, enabler, and amplifier of local enterprise. By bringing producers, buyers, and policymakers to the same table, AGRA helped transform pulses from a commodity of subsistence into a symbol of scalable, structured, and strategic trade.

In East Africa’s trade story, beans have become more than a staple crop. They have become a bridge between producers and processors, between policy and practice, between one border and the next.

And in that bridge lies the future of African trade.

By Cheick Kane, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer – AGRA Mali

Across the Sahel, farmers stand at the frontlines of climate change. Erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and water scarcity continue to threaten agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. Yet, in Mali, a centuries-old land restoration method is gaining renewed relevance—this time, powered by farmer training, local innovation, and structured support systems.

Half-Moon Technology: Traditional Wisdom, Modern Impact

Half-moon technology—locally known as demi-lune— is a simple but powerful land restoration technique that involves digging crescent-shaped basins in degraded fields to trap rainwater, restore soil fertility, and create microenvironments for crop production. In the regions of Koulikoro, Ségou, and Sikasso, this traditional technique is being revitalized and scaled through community mobilization and institutional backing, enabling smallholder farmers to rehabilitate barren lands and boost yields without costly inputs.

In practice, semi-circular basins ranging from one to two meters in diameter are dug on sloped or degraded land with the open side facing uphill. This design allows maximum rainwater capture. Drought-tolerant crops, trees, or grasses are planted within and around the structures. Over time, organic matter accumulates in the basins, improving soil structure and fertility while reducing erosion.

Its impact is both practical and profound. Farmers engaged through the project “Strengthening the resilience capacities of small farmers through the development of vegetable value chains,” led by ALPHALOG-YEREDON, and the initiative “Empowering Women and Youth: Strengthening Smallholder Farmers and Ecosystems Against Climate Change,” implemented by AMEDD, have shown that combining traditional knowledge with modern agronomic support can deliver measurable outcomes. In demonstration plots, similar exeperinceds have demonstrated that the half-moon structures helped retain up to 30% more soil moisture during dry spells. Also, farmers using the technique have reported yield increases of 60 to 100% compared to untreated fields. This is to say that with basic training, a single farmer can rehabilitate up to one hectare of land per season—boosting productivity, generating income, and creating opportunities for local employment.

Fatoumata Coulibaly, a farmer from Marobougou in Ségou, puts it simply: “My land was barren for years. Now I grow millet and sorghum. I even have grass to feed my goats.” Her experience is echoed across dozens of communities, where restored land is translating into improved food security, stronger livelihoods, and renewed hope.

A Scalable Model for the Sahel and beyond

While the technique itself is straightforward, its success lies in the way it is applied—through farmer-led action, shared learning, and effective collaboration between communities and technical partners. It is not only helping farmers cope with climate shocks but also shifting how degraded land is valued and managed.

This model is gaining traction beyond Mali. From Niger to Burkina Faso, and even across semi-arid regions of India and Latin America, water-harvesting techniques like the half-moon are being used to support regenerative agriculture, proving vital support for landscape restoration and food production. What distinguishes Mali’s experience is the way the practice has been embedded in wider efforts to strengthen local systems—combining agronomic training, data-informed decision-making, and supportive land management practices.

Despite its simplicity, half-moon technology is labor-intensive. To scale effectively, it requires strong community mobilization, local government support for incentives and land tenure clarity, and consistent technical guidance on design, spacing, and planting strategies. AGRA is working with partners such as IFDC’s Soil Value program to embed this technique within broader soil health and climate resilience programs—making it a central part of long-term strategies to strengthen food and water systems in the Sahel. These initiatives are part of a strategic vision to ensure that smallholder farmers are not only adapting to change but leading the way in restoring degraded ecosystems and building sustainable food systems.

A pathway to a sustainable and greener future

In the face of escalating climate risks, half-moon technology offers more than just a survival mechnism. It represents a practical, scalable pathway to regeneration. As Mali advances its Vision 2063 agenda, anchored in climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land use, these simple crescent-shaped trenches may well become symbols of resilience, opportunity, and transformation—shaped by the hands of farmers and nurtured by the collective will to restore the land.

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