05-Rivers and Life: The Nile

As this journey to the river's source continues through to the farming heartland of Ethiopia, it becomes difficult to grasp why this fruitful country should still be dependent on food aid for its survival.

But Enyew Temesgen knows only too well why this is still the case.

He and his wife Wubit own a small farm just at the end of blue Nile gorge, in the foothills of Ethiopia; and even though the Nile here finally breaks free of its confines to flow right through their fields, Enyewe can hardly use a single drop of it.

The Nile is far from​ me.

I cannot afford a motor pump and I cannot fetch it with my bare hands so only my cattle drink from it.

If I could I would be very happy to bring the Nile to my land but it is beyond our ability.

Enyew used to be a builder's laborer with nothing to his name but he worked hard and saved up his meager​ wages to buy a small plot of land and get married.

His family now work together on the farm.

The days are long and hard with each one of them contributing not just to their livelihood but to their survival.

Unlike Egypt, there are hardly any irrigation or water storage systems in Ethiopia and so farmers here are entirely dependent on the annual rainy season to grow their crops.