ADDIS ABABA, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) revealed on Thursday that it has set up 50 weather forecasting centers in remote parts of the country so as to protect the country's agricultural production.
According to a statement by ATA on Thursday, as the imminent major rainy season approaches, the newly established centers would help farmers in four major crop producing regions of the east African country with access to up-to-date weather information.
The agency further stressed that developing countries, including Ethiopia, are frequently vulnerable to climate change related challenges.
The newly established centers would help farmers to mitigate challenges with their farming activities with a better access to timely information about weather conditions in their respective locality, the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency indicated.
The announcement by ATA came amid Ethiopia's battle with the ongoing drought scenario that hits parts of the east African country affecting 7.8 million Ethiopians in need of emergency food and other humanitarian assistance.
As the imminent rainy season approaches in major crop producing parts of the country, the government of Ethiopia envisages such initiatives would reduce the impact of negative weather conditions.
The Ethiopian Meteorology Agency has recently indicated the prospect of average and above-average rainfall in different parts of the country, suggesting the situation as an advantage to drought affected regions.
The Ethiopian Meteorology Agency also recommended farmers and institutions across the country to take water saving measures so as to combat the long-term impact of future drought threats. Enditem
