(Download the report here)

Before the 2020-2022 conflict in Tigray, most people relied on smallholder agriculture for food and income. But the war had devastating impacts on farmers and food systems, lives and livelihoods. The extent of impacts on vegetable production was not known, however, so this assessment was undertaken on vegetable systems, including irrigation which is a key resource for production. The main vegetables grown before the conflict were pepper, tomato, cabbage, onion and potato, with an increasing trend in vegetable production and irrigation, with fertilizer and seed provided through the national and regional governments. The conflict led to a disruption of the vegetable and irrigation systems as crops and infrastructure were destroyed, transportation blocked, with labor reduced due to out-migration and seeds and fertilizers became unavailable. Food insecurity increased and most people shifted their production patterns to prioritize cereals instead of vegetables. However, vegetable consumption reportedly increased as the vegetable market was not there and households opted to substitute common bean-based side dishes with vegetables because beans were not available or accessible. After the conflict, vegetable production remains low with only 30% of total irrigable land put back in operation, down from 70% pre-conflict. A diversity of vegetables is still grown, however, including tomato, onion, peppers, cabbage, Swiss chard and lettuce, among others. Most producers sell their vegetables for income while little is kept for home consumption. Food insecurity continues to be the greatest challenge, as most households lost productive assets, and ability to purchase food is limited because of the loss of employment and income. As efforts are channeled towards the recovery of livelihoods in Tigray, vulnerable groups including refugees and internally displaced persons face the most challenges. Key interventions to support vegetable and irrigation systems should concentrate on increasing the availability of seed and irrigation infrastructure, improving market linkages, and improving awareness of vegetables for nutrition and health, with a focus on the most vulnerable groups.

Mwambi M, Hruy G, Boset AM, Singh R, Schmitter P, Legesse WB. 2024. A rapid assessment of vegetable and irrigation systems in Tigray, Ethiopia, before and after the 2020-2022 conflict. Publication No. 24-1076. World Vegetable Center Eastern and South Africa, Arusha, Tanzania. 32pp.

This work was made possible with the generous support of the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-BHA). The authors gratefully acknowledge the Tigray Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as its woreda level offices, for their assistance, and all the farmers, and representatives from government institutions (from zonal to woreda or district level) and national and international NGOs non-governmental humanitarian organizations that took part in the focus groups and key informant interviews.