People Impacted
4,323
Elshadai Wukro AITeC Farm
Projected Completed Date
09/07/2020
Located 45 kilometers from Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray in northern Ethiopia, the Elshadai AITeC Farm is a shining example of how agriculture, education, and innovation can come together to transform communities.
Established within the Elshadai Children’s Village in Wukro (ECV-W)—a safe haven founded in 1989 to care for children affected by civil war—the farm plays a vital role in supporting nearly 200 children through both nutrition and education. Graduates from the program have gone on to become health professionals, engineers, teachers, and entrepreneurs, illustrating the powerful ripple effect of self-sustaining development.
Agriculture with Purpose and Innovation
More than a source of food, the farm is a living laboratory for training, research, and community outreach. Its mission is twofold: to ensure food and economic security for the Elshadai community and to build regional agricultural capacity across Tigray.
The Elshadai AITeC site is also a testing ground for advanced technologies, including solar-powered irrigation, an automated milking system, mini-greenhouses, and weather monitoring stations—bringing smart farming solutions to the heart of East Africa.
Site Components & Innovations
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Vegetable Demonstration & Training Plot – 0.5 hectares
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Model Avocado Orchard – 1 hectare with intercropping, solar drip irrigation
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Apple Research Orchard – 1 hectare
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Open Field Production – 18 hectares, transitioning to modern drip systems
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Dairy Farm – Includes an automated milking machine
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Meteorological Station – Supports climate-smart practices
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Technological Trials – Mechanical seed planter, solar systems, mini-greenhouses
Education & Regional Development
Elshadai’s AITeC is a center for capacity building and regional outreach, offering:
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Training in cutting-edge farming technologies
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Applied research in avocado and apple cultivation protocols
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Support for local farmers through logistical and market linkages
Through these efforts, the Elshadai AITeC Farm is helping farmers gain the knowledge and tools needed to increase yields, improve nutrition, and build long-term resilience.
A Future Built on Hope and Self-Sufficiency
Water 4 Mercy is proud to support this transformational model of education and agriculture, where innovation meets compassion and where children, farmers, and communities rise together—one harvest at a time.