Mugoro Eriso is busy with the wheat harvest. He has hired some of his poorer neighbours to help him. This year he is happy with the harvest.
In recent years most of his crops haven’t grown very well due to soil
degradation. But this year Mugoro invested in fertilizer, and his wheat
has flourished.

Mugoro Eriso is well known in his area. He is one of only a few people to have finished high school, and his diploma has helped him to become chairman of his kebele. His property also contributes to his reputation. Apart from his own 1.5 hectare plot of land, he rents 2 hectares from poorer neighbours. Mugoro grows a number of crops, including wheat, potatoes, barley, beans, peas and a little bit of maize. On half a hectare he grows eucalyptus trees, which he sells as firewood and construction material. Another half hectare is planted with enset (false banana). Mugoro’s wife makes kocho from the enset, some of which they consume, but most of which they sell. Making kocho is a labour-intensive task, so when they have a lot of enset to be processed, Mugoro hires a neighbour to help his wife.

Many people consider Mugoro a rich man. And indeed, Mugoro is much better-off than many of the people in his area. Apart from cultivating a large piece of land, he owns an ox and several cows and sheep. However, Mugoro thinks that his success should be largely attributed to himself: “I’ve been smart and have always diversified my income. Years ago I started to sell tej, tella and soft drinks. With the profits I built a small bar in front of my house. My wife runs the bar, and my oldest daughter helps out after school.” Mugoro is saving up to buy a second ox. Now he owns only one, which he combines with the ox of another farmer, so they can plough on alternate days.

With his steady cash income, this year Mugoro bought fertilizer and improved seeds to ensure a good harvest. But Mugoro realizes that many of his neighbours are facing problems. When he was young, all the people would sell crops or livestock before Meskel, Christmas and Easter and these feasts would be celebrated with a lot of food and drinks. Mugoro doesn’t see that happen anymore. “Every day people come to me to ask if they can work on my land. They only ask for a meal in return.”