The Vetiver System has been successfully used in Ethiopia for Soil and Water Conservation for nearly 20 years. it was introduced by an Austrian NGO - Menschen fur Menschen - to farmers in Illubabor Province. Currently over 20000 farmers are using Vetiver System for erosion control and crop yield improvement. The technology has been promoted by the NGO SLUF - Ethiopia Sustainable Land Use Forum - and from farmer to farmer. Vetiver is being used in many other Ethiopian provinces, and the same …
Hassan Ali is a farmer in western Ethiopia who has led the way in using vetiver grass and the Vetiver System for soil and water conservation. He has increased crop yield by 30% stopped erosion, and improved groundwater. He has taught at least 100 other farmers how to use the Vetiver System, and has provided plant material to get them started. The extra wealth that he has created has enabled him to send two sons to University.
