Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (FMC) — The Megech irrigation and drinking water project is poised to reshape agricultural production, improve water security and unlock new economic opportunities in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, Regional State Chief Administrator Arega Kebede said, presenting the project as an example of how long-delayed development initiatives can deliver lasting benefits to communities.
Speaking at the project’s inauguration in Gondar, Arega highlighted its potential to expand irrigation-based farming, ease the city’s longstanding drinking water shortage and create new opportunities in fisheries and tourism.
With a storage capacity exceeding 185 million cubic metres and the potential to irrigate more than 17,000 hectares of farmland, the project is expected to benefit over 25,000 farmers, strengthening agricultural productivity and improving rural livelihoods in the surrounding areas, including Gondar Zuria and Dembiya.
The project’s wider economic impact, he said, will depend on how effectively communities turn the new infrastructure into productive activity.
Farmers should be integrated swiftly into irrigation-based agriculture, with greater emphasis on high-value crops that can raise household incomes, supply industries with raw materials and serve export markets.
Beyond agriculture, improved water availability is expected to help address Gondar’s persistent drinking water challenges, while the area’s water resources could support fisheries and encourage investment in hotels, resorts and other tourism facilities.
These opportunities could strengthen the region’s economic base and create additional sources of income for local communities.
Arega also linked the project to the Medemer government’s broader development approach, arguing that the completion of initiatives held back for years demonstrates the importance of moving beyond inherited delays and translating development commitments into tangible outcomes.
He cited the restoration of Fasil Ghebbi, the historic palace and castle complex, and the Gorgora tourism development project as other initiatives intended to preserve Ethiopia’s heritage while creating opportunities for future generations.
He also highlighted development efforts aimed at social groups that have not adequately benefited from previous progress, including women facing hardship and persons with disabilities.
To secure Megech’s long-term benefits, Arega stressed the importance of protecting the reservoir and its surrounding watershed.
Soil conservation and measures to prevent siltation and pollution, particularly in the upper catchment, will be essential to preserving the project’s capacity and ensuring its benefits endure.
He expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his attention to the project, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh for continued support, and Nuclear Energy Commission Commissioner Abraham Belay for his role in coordinating the initiative.
He also commended contractor Baika, led by Kasahun Mesganaw, for its work on Megech and other development and heritage projects, and thanked security forces for helping create conditions for development activities.
The inauguration marks an important step toward turning Megech’s irrigation, water supply and wider economic potential into practical gains for communities across the area.
As Arega’s remarks underscored, the project’s ultimate value will be measured not only by the infrastructure completed, but by the livelihoods improved and opportunities sustained in the years ahead.