  million population). All the parameters in the objective situation taken into consideration, this is an important achievement in food availability and nutritional requirements. The average yearly yield in the last 17 years (with some data still not filled for 2015) is about 535,090 tons cultivated in an average yearly area of 474,168 Ha. Production is estimated to be an average of 1.2 tons/Ha indicating the significant progress made. The MOA data furthermore indicates that in high rainfall areas this has been raised to 1.5 to 2 tons while in irrigation agriculture it has reached as high as 3.0 tons/Ha. 134. Raising agricultural productivity through irrigation is also showing progress. The government has embarked on modern irrigations schemes and more than 58,000 hectares have been cultivated through irrigation technology (only 9% of the available potential land for irrigation). This has raised the per hectare yield and predictability of productivity and the opportunity for harvesting two or three times per year thus contributing to food availability but further expansion is planned. Recently the scheme has been used to empower farmers and contribute to agricultural sustainability. Consequently, about 683 farmers have been settled near the Kekebet dam, more than 1700 near the Gerset dam, and hundreds (from several villages) near the Logo dam. They are each allotted land and benefit from the irrigation, electricity and water infrastructure established by the Government to promote transformed commercial farming models at household level. The experience so far is positive and promising and further expansion has been planned. 135. The overall effort on food security has made important strides but much more remains as the goal also goes beyond creating food self-sufficiency. It is thus related to the goal of creating contingencies for future eventualities. The Government hence declared the Grain Board under Proclamation No 30/1993 and has been active in storing significant amounts during periods of bumper harvest. In general, the investment and the progress in the last 18 years have surely laid the foundation for a better future, with the rights to food and nutrition modestly addressed. Eritrea is thus progressively moving in the right path towards achieving food security that guarantees availability, accessibility and affordability of food in a way that fulfills the minimum standard requirement, as a right to all. 136. In the difficult circumstances when rain failed and food markets soared, the Government has however, used its reserves for contingency measures. Furthermore, it Region Sub Regions Centers proactively defended the right of the 12 25 Southern people through prudent measures of 16 64 Central market stabilization. Hence, it takes 14 24 Gash Barka subsidy measures to alleviate the 11 25 Anseba 38 Northern Red Sea 10 problems. The Hidri Programme of food 4 25 Southern Red Sea subsidies is an intervention that reflects Total 67 201 the government‟s commitment and runs Regional Distribution of Hidri Centers 201 centers (Refer box). Page 28 of 100