Liben Farmers’ Cooperative Union Secures Idle Borehole, Transforming Agricultural Prospects

06-03-2025

Liben Farmers’ Cooperative Union successfully reclaims an idle borehole, securing water for its dairy farm and local farmers. Discover how strategic lobbying transformed agriculture in Woliso.

In a landmark victory for sustainable agriculture and rural development, the Liben Farmers’ Cooperative Union has successfully secured access to an idle water borehole, ensuring the viability of its ambitious dairy farm project. This milestone, achieved through strategic lobbying and advocacy, not only safeguards the union’s operations but also provides crucial water resources for the surrounding farming communities.

Founded in 2005 with just 18 primary cooperatives and 20,817 farmers, Liben Farmers’ Cooperative Union has expanded its reach to 121 cooperatives, supporting 43,236 members across Woliso, Ameya, Wonchi, and Goro woredas. Beyond supplying agricultural inputs and aggregating grain, the union has remained steadfast in its mission to enhance farmers’ livelihoods.

In 2024, the union embarked on a visionary initiative to establish a dairy farm aimed at meeting the increasing demand for high-quality milk and improved-breed heifers. However, this initiative encountered a major obstacle—a severe shortage of clean water, threatening the farm’s sustainability. Located on the outskirts of Woliso town, the farm faced an uncertain future unless a reliable water source could be secured.

Determined to overcome this challenge, the union engaged in Agriterra’s FACT (Farmer Advocacy Consultation Tool) training in June 2024. The training revealed a long-neglected yet invaluable resource—a dormant borehole that had been drilled years earlier by the government for irrigation but never utilised. Recognising its potential, the union swiftly developed a SMART lobby proposal to gain access to the borehole, with the aim of securing water for dairy farming, cultivating animal fodder, and providing irrigation for local farmers.

Armed with a well-structured proposal and a strong case for economic and social impact, union leaders initiated an extensive lobbying campaign, engaging with key government stakeholders. Their persistent efforts bore fruit on 5 December 2024, when the Oromia Irrigation and Pastoral Development Bureau granted them full rights to a 475-metre-deep underground water source, valued at 27,437,980 ETB (€244,982).

With water now secured, the dairy farm has begun milk production, and the union is poised to cultivate diverse animal fodder crops in 2025. The revitalised borehole is not only sustaining the farm but also providing much-needed irrigation water to the surrounding community, reinforcing the cooperative’s role as a pillar of local development.

This achievement stands as a testament to the power of unity, strategic advocacy, and relentless determination. By identifying and reclaiming an idle borehole, the Liben Farmers’ Cooperative Union has not only resolved its own water crisis but also unlocked new opportunities for neighbouring farmers to enhance their agricultural productivity. The success of this initiative highlights the profound impact of cooperative action and effective lobbying in driving sustainable rural transformation.