1. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS ERITREA

2. Contents • Country Background • Agricultural Statistics in Eritrea • Farming Systems

3. Country Background • Eritrea is an East-African country • Total area of 124,000 km2 • Population estimate of 3.8 million • Bordered by:- • The Red sea:- Northeast and East • Djibouti:- Southeast • Ethiopia:- South • Sudan:- West and Northwest

4. Main Agro-Ecological Zones • Central Highland (>1,500 m.a.s.l) • Western Escarpment (600-1,500 m.a.s.l) • Southwestern Lowland (600-750 m.a.s.l) • Northwestern Lowland (400-1,500 m.a.s.l) • Green Belt (750-2,000 m.a.s.l) • Costal Plain (0-600 m.a.s.l)

5. Agro-ecological Map

6. Administrative Regions (Zobas) NRS Anseba SRS Gash-Barka Debub Maekel NRS Debub Debub

7. Mixed Cereal/Pulse System • In the Green Belt zone • Mixed system including permanent tree crops • This zone used as seasonal transhumance for agro-pastoralists • Average annual rainfall 700-1000mm • Dense coniferous dorest

8. Rainfall • Two Precipitations • June – September • Western Lowlands and Highlands • October –March • Eastern Lowlands • Range varies • 200 mm in the Coastal plains • 1000 mm in the Eastern Escarpment • Generally rainfall in Eritrea is torrential and erratic

9. Agricultural Statistics • Agricultural data collection is weak • Inadequate technical expertise • absence of Sampling Frame • Shortage of financial resources • Inadequate trained manpower for collection, analysis and interpretation • Currently agri-data are organized by the MOA and Zobas

10. Crop Data • Crop Assessment Survey (main source) • Conducted every year starting 1992 • Quantitative forecast of crop production • tentative and not very accurate • Crop in the field • Rapid and subjective methods • Based on interview of sample of farmers • No objective measurement used • According the crop assessment survey Eritrea is a “food deficit” country

11. Crop Production 1992 - 2006

12. Main crop coverage (Average of 1992-06)

13. Livestock Data • Most livestock producers –Subsistence • 50% of cattle herd found in Gash-Barka Region • Livestock Census conducted – 1997

14. Livestock Population (MOA Livestock Population Census 1997)

15. Market Data • Market prices are collected by different institutions • Agricultural Marketing Can be Classified as • Livestock Marketing • Dairy Marketing • Poultry and Egg Marketing • Horticulture Marketing • Field Crop Marketing

16. Livestock Marketing • Long and complex channels • Poor trekking routes • MOA promoting transport by vehicles • Poor market facilities • Poor Handling of Hides & Skins • Inaccuracy in price collection • Animal quality • Time

17. Dairy Marketing • About 10,000 dairies • Rise steadily be/n 1991 and 1997 but fallen back • High demand for milk & milk products • High price of milk • Asmara dairy factory

18. Poultry and Egg Marketing • Divided into two sectors • Backyard • Commercial • Marketed through urban retail markets • Farmers • Traders • Chickens are sold live • No grading for eggs

19. Horticulture Marketing • Marketing channels vary according to crop and Region • Mostly delivered directly to markets by farmers • 37% of banana products sold to traders at farm gate • Fruit trade is dominated by wholesalers • Good market facilities

20. Field Crop Marketing • Subsistence farmers • Marketing channels • Farmer to consumer • Farmer to trader/village collectors • Farmer to Eritrean Grain Board • Import of field crops is common • Prices rises from time to time

21. Main Farming Systems • Sedentary rain fed cereal/pulses system • Mixed cereal/pulse system • Agro-pastoralism • Nomadic pastoralist system • Spate irrigation farming system • Commercial farming system

22. Thank You