In Ana Sora, Negele Arsi, and Angacha Districts, farming families once lived with constant uncertainty. Today, even small backyard plots as small as 92 m2 are transforming livelihoods through permagardening promoted by SAA Ethiopia.

What began as a simple household-level intervention has evolved into a practical solution for improving production, nutrition, and income at the family level.

Through training, farmers have learned how to make better use of limited resources by improving water management, enriching soil with organic matter, and turning household waste into compost. They have diversified their crops, increasing the production of nutrient-rich foods and strengthening both their diets and their resilience.

The impact has been significant. More than 97% of participating farmers improved their knowledge, and 92% adopted organic fertilizers. Production costs dropped by more than half, falling from USD 3.1 to USD 1.28. On average, farmers earned USD 14 in profit from only 72 kilograms of high-value produce, sold at an average price of USD 0.41 per kilogram in 2024. Nearly 76% of farmers also gained market access, transforming small-scale production into a meaningful source of income.

Beyond income gains, permaculture has improved household nutrition. The proportion of households with high dietary diversity surged from 55% to 71%. In comparison, the proportion with poor food consumption declined from 19% to 8%, as reflected in an improvement in the Food Consumption Score.

Today, 95% of the farmers recognize the importance of diverse diets and apply this knowledge in their daily lives.

This approach has also contributed to shifts in household dynamics. Decision-making is becoming more inclusive, with 60% of households reporting that husbands and wives make joint decisions. Women, in particular, are gaining confidence and playing a stronger role in managing income use and production choices.

With 99% of participants committed to continuing the practice, parmagardening is proving that even the smallest spaces can generate income, improve nutrition, and strengthen resilience, offering a simple yet powerful pathway to more secure livelihoods.