Temesgen Girma, a 30-year-old father of five from the Shino Funamura Kebele in Ethiopia’s Angacha district, has been the Sasakawa Africa Association’s (SAA’s) host farmer since 2021. His enterprise as a farmer has over that duration transformed several-fold thanks to education on regenerative, nutrition-sensitive, and market-oriented agriculture.  

Temesgen credits the Talking Books (TBs), a digital extension system provided by SAA in partnership with Amplio, for significantly enhancing his knowledge. The Talking Book is a battery-powered digital tool that delivers pre-recorded Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to farmers. This innovative tool allows farmers to access GAP messages at their convenience, ensuring timely and relevant information transfer. In the Temesgen’s district alone, over 420 farmers have benefited from TBs, improving their farming practices. 

Temesgen says he has gained insights into various farming techniques, such as composting, planting methods, fertilizer application, crop rotation, soil and water conservation, and marketing strategies. Today, he has successfully established an improved composting set up and is cultivating a diverse range of vegetables in his permagarden, including cabbages, beetroots, carrots, and peppers.  

Temesgen further lauds the triple benefits of SAA’s interventions, emphasizing that they have improved his family’s nutrition, taught him about diverse diets, and introduced him to new economic opportunities.  

“These fresh vegetables not only contribute to my family’s healthy diet, but they also provide a source of income, as the marketing skills I learned enable me to sell surplus produce,” he said. 

He also recognizes the positive impact of TB enabled messages on soil health and productivity. He remains eager to continue sharing the knowledge gained from SAA with his community.  

Retrieved from SAA E-Newsletter, issued in December 2023 with Focus on 2023 Highlights