Flood affected rice farmers in USA

 Introduction Ethiopia is confronting diverse climate related challenges in 2020. The main challenges are associated with the desert locust invasions in the Northeast (Tigray, Wollo and Afar regions ) and South-eastern (Dire Dawa and Hararghe) areas of the nation and flooding connected with constant heavy rains which has influenced the Fogera plain and the lowland regions of Afar region. Additionally, the flood in the Fogera plain was aggravated by (I) the bad management of irrigation channels of the uncompleted rib river irrigation strategy, which has been under construction since 2008, (ii) shortage of flood management structures in the districts of this Fogera simple, and (iii) the lack of coordinated and proper pest control practices (e.g. afforestation, terracing and other flooding controlling practices) on the upper catchment regions (upland areas) of the Fogera plain, and a lack of flood-risk mitigation and investigation for a fast reaction.We present the extent of flood damage in the Fogera plain based on (I) direct observations and conversation with flood affected rice farmers, and (ii) data collected in the district and kebele[1] offices of Agriculture and Early Warning and Risk Management offices. In addition to the degree of damage, we talk about the continuing efforts put in place to address challenges together with expected impacts on rice commercialization as well as the livelihoods of farmers at the Fogera plain. Steps underway to address the affected families after the flooding, those badly affected have received diplomatic aid , such as provision of temporary shelter (home, blankets, tarpaulins, sleeping mats) and relief assistance (provision of water and food ). The humanitarian assistance was provided by political and non-governmental organisations.In terms of rehabilitation, there's a strategy to guarantee accessibility of seeds from crops that can be increased when the floodwater subsides, mainly linked to short maturing crops such as pulses and crops that may be grown with supplementary irrigation. As reported by respondents, the anticipated challenges will be (I) ensuring that the supply of quality seed of favored varieties of short maturing crops, (ii) labour shortage, as all affected farmers need to plant at the exact same period, (iii) the potential communicable disease pandemic after the flooding (e.g. typhoid, cholera and Malaria), and (iv) persistent food insecurity aggravated by both the flood and COVID-19 associated food cost surge. Expected effect of the flooding on rice commercialization and farmers' livelihoods responses of farmers and specialists from the respective district office of agriculture and Early Warning and Risk Management offices indicate the next short and long-term effects associated with rice commercialization and farmers' livelihoods:The need to ensure food security for the affected farm families during humanitarian assistance, which also demands redirection of agriculture development efforts;Availability of paddy rice from the present principal production will be considerably reduced leading to higher costs of both paddy and milled rice. The food safety status of farm householders in rural areas and families in urban areas will be considerably reduced as food costs will be very high;The projected harvest production on the residual moisture in the soil after the flooding will result in progress in the access to food for farm families. However, the degree of production is expected to be affected by shortage of labor, as all affected farmers will begin farm activities at the exact same moment.Given the exacerbation of harm was mainly as a result of inefficiency in the construction and absence of timely completion of noodle irrigation scheme, policy makers have been likely to improve production systems with greater access to irrigation, along with the chance of off-season creation of different crops including high value crops (vegetables). Rib irrigation is one of the major investments in the Fogera plain anticipated to transform the entire harvest production system covering 20,000 ha of property and reaching 40,000 farmers.The building of Rib irrigation dam started in 2008 by a local contractor, Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation together with the financial support of World Bank as part of the Bank's Ethiopian Nile Irrigation and Drainage Project (ENIDP) with initial estimated budget of 1.3 billion birr and was assumed to be completed in 2012. It was formally inaugurated in 2018 following 10 years at an expense of 3.8 billion birr. On the other hand, the scheme is still not completed, together with the regional authorities intending to do so in the first half of 2021. The main reasons for delay are (I) layout modifications, (ii) inefficiency of the contractor and general public supervision, and (iii) reported delays and corruption in compensating for farmland and communal property.