› Home › About Self Help › Contact Us › Current Projects Burkina Faso Ethiopia Eritrea Ghana Kenya Malawi Togo Uganda Zambia › Activities in Ireland › Activities in UK Events Calendar › Technologies › Case Studies › History 20 Year Highlights › How You Can Help What Your Money is Doing Regular Giving Fund-Raising Suggestions One Click Donation Corporate Seed Fund Farmers Grow Fund Volunteering Tax Relief on Donations › Fund-Raising Field Visits 2007 Kenya 2006 Eritrea 2005 -Kenya-Uganda-Malawi 2001-2004 From the Archives › Africa Alive Schools Programme Recent School News School Visits Curriculum Publications Student & Teacher Impressions Pictures Download Young Scientists Exhibition School Profiles (coming soon) › Exhibitions Africa Framed Value of Rubbish › Testimonials › Media Centre Press Releases Articles on Self Help Activities Related Topics › Reports / Studies › Useful Links › Glossary of Terms › Secure Page › Recruitment › Forum Seed potato Programme Between 1985-1987, Self Help organised the shipment of 2,000 tons of seed potatoes for distribution to drought stricken parts of Ethiopia. Self Help believed that future famine relief would be made unnecessary if production within the country could be boosted. Of the varieties imported, the Cara potato proved to the best adapted to Ethiopian conditions. Cara's yield on average is 300Qu/ha and is relatively tolerant to blight. Distribution covered all areas of Ethiopia. Although the project initially covered a limited number of farmers, because the potatoes were distributed on a revolving basis, with farmers repaying seed loans at the end of the harvest, it has made a considerable contribution towards solving the food problems of farmers involved in the programme. Many farmers refer to the seed potato as a "life saver". It is said that the Irish potato is now the fifth most important crop in Ethiopia.                                            Self Help Africa is a limited liability company. Company number: 105601 Charity No. 6663 (Ireland) The organisation has offices in Ireland at: Annefield House, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois Tel: 00 353 (0)57 8694034 - Fax: 00 353 (0)57 8694038, and in the United Kingdom at : Second Floor Suite, Westgate House, Dickens Court, Off Hills Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1QU. Tel : 0044-(0)1743 277170        We welcome your comments: info@selfhelpafrica.com        Powered by: go2web