Since 2018 Traid has supported PAN Ethiopia and PAN UK’s innovative work to expand tried and tested pesticide reduction models. This project is the adapted work from the highly successful pesticide reduction models used with cotton growers in Ethiopia.

In 2025, Traid has committed £45,822 of funding towards this project to support small holding Ethiopian vegetable growers to grow a healthy, agroecological vegetable system that will benefit farmers and consumers.

Traid first funded the initial pilot project in 2018 and the results of agroecological vegetable farming have been outstanding. Now over 1,240 vegetable farmers have been trained to reduce their use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) by 60 – 80% while maintaining yields, with 25% of participating vegetable farmers using no hazardous pesticides at all, and a 73% reduction in overall pesticide spraying by farmers.

This phase of the project will:

• Expand farmers’ training: 1,440 farmers, of which 30% are women, will receive hands-on training in sustainable farming through the expanded Farmer Field School curriculum.
• Support trainers: 6 new government extension agents will be trained. These agricultural officers, who provide education, training, and technical assistance to farmers, will join 20 current officers. In addition, 10 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) teachers specialising in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and soil health monitoring will support the programme. Each teacher will train 30–50 farmers, sharing practical, vocational farming skills. In this project, they will train both farmers and agricultural officers in organic and environmentally friendly farming techniques.
• Develop local community leaders: 12 experienced farmers will be trained as Learning Circle coordinators to support the Farmer Field Schools in their villages, helping other farmers learn and share knowledge.
• Support women’s groups and markets: The project will help women’s groups obtain Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification, which verifies that their produce is grown sustainably. This opens new opportunities to sell to hotels, restaurants, and other buyers seeking eco-friendly vegetables, while also helping farmers in local markets benefit from sustainable farming practices.

Vegetable production in Ziway, Ethiopia typically uses very high levels of agricultural chemicals, in particular Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). These high levels of pesticides used to grow crops bring damage to the soil’s health and puts farmers at risk of pesticide poisoning and reducing their incomes.

Excessive use of HHPs also contaminates the surface water which has raised concerns of harm to Lake Ziway, Ethiopia’s largest freshwater lake, its tributaries and surrounding wetlands. These ecosystems provide fish and drinking water for local communities and form a biodiverse landscape of high importance, including habitats for many species like hippos and migratory birds.

However, this project directly supporting farmers to make informed choices about reducing their pesticide usage. The vegetables grown are valuable cash crops sold in local markets and provide income and food security for farmers and their families. The chemical-free vegetable crops are also used as rotation crops in conjunction with cotton farming to improve the soil quality and provide farmers better chances of stronger yields and good harvests.

The exciting growth and the continued success of this project shows the importance of innovation in the agricultural sector. By adapting farming techniques used with organic cotton growers, the work of PAN UK and PAN Ethiopia has brought a new way to ensure the safety of both farmers and the land they farm on. Find out more about PAN UK and PAN Ethiopia here. If you would like to support Traid’s work, donate here.