11/30/2004

The Rift Valley of Ethiopia is a beautiful region of lakes, mountains,and broad grassy plains. Good agricultural land is at a premium and is heavily cultivated. Pastoralists rely on grassland like this to support their cattle.

Ethiopia is one of the most food insecure countries in the world and recent studies show that Ethiopia's poor continue to become poorer and the likelihood of greater numbers of them sinking into destitution is ever increasing. An expanding rural population struggles to eke out a living on ever decreasing plots of land whose fertility and productivity continue to decline. Long-term food security is dependent on a broad based, long-term strategy of market and land reform coupled with major investments in population policy, education, roads, and communications.