Kawadaya Oldisha is a farmer in Konso, Ethiopia. His family’s small farm plot is located on a steep hillside in southern Ethiopia. They grow millet (a type of grain), beans, and various fruits.
Kawadaya’s farm spans just 20 meters (66 feet). It is divided into six carefully crafted terraces. Terracing is a 400-year-old agricultural technique passed down through generations. Terracing allows the people of Konso to turn their rugged land into fertile fields.
“It’s how we’ve survived,” Kawadaya says. “Our land is steep and rocky, but we’ve learned to make every inch count. Here, every piece of land is valuable.”
Kawadaya packs his terraces in this space with maize, beans, sweet potatoes, and small trees like mango and avocado.
“Terraces help keep the soil in place,” Kawadaya says. “They prevent erosion during heavy rains and retain moisture during dry spells.”
In recent years, climate change has made farming harder for Kawadaya and other farmers in the region. Droughts reduce their crop yields. Extreme rainfall washes away vital soil and nutrients.
“The land isn’t what it used to be,” Kawadaya says. “The rains are unpredictable — either too little or too much, coming too early or too late. Every year it becomes harder to grow enough food for my family.”
In 2024 Kawadaya lost half of his crops due to floods. The year before, drought dried out the plants before they could even grow.
Kawadaya is using several new approaches on his farm. He is using drought-resistant plants. He is also using agroforestry: he plants trees that give his crops shade from the sun and protection from extreme rains. Kawadaya is building soil bunds, low barriers along the edges of his crops that slow water runoff and help keep moisture in the soil.
These new techniques complement the traditional method of terracing. They help Kawadaya keep his farm productive, even with the challenges of climate change.
David Brown adapted this story for Mongabay Kids. It is based on an article by Solomon Yimer, published on Mongabay News.
