Farming in eastern Ethiopia – in pictures

Fields of red sorghum growing in terraced fields that stretch into the distance are a common sight in the scenic mountains of eastern Ethiopia, giving a misleading impression of bountiful harvests despite the current drought in the region Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Various techniques are used to stop water runoff from the mountain tops. Through its Meret programme to reverse soil degradation, the UN's World Food Programme trains farmers to use techniques to slow down water runoff. Mini barriers include curved walls and earth called ‘eyebrows’ or a v-shaped variation called 'herrings' Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

A close-up view of an 'eyebrow', which is used to prevent water run-off Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

About 45% of Ethiopia’s land is above 1,500m, with mountainous terrain, plateaux, steep slopes and deep valleys. Despite extensive groundwater resources, 90% of agriculture depends on rainfall rather than irrigation. Because of population pressure – at 79 million, Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous nation, after Nigeria – much of the land in the highlands has been over-farmed and trees cut down, allowing rainwater to flow downhill instead of being retained. In parts of this region, the terraces look bone dry and the sorghum stunted Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Ahmed Adam, 50, has benefited from the WFP's Meret programme. He has seen an increased yield from sorghum from his 0.5 hectare field and has also started planting pigeon pea, a legume and highly sought-after cash crop. Here he is harvesting his crop of sorghum with the help of two sons Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Women harvest pigeon pea growing on ‘herrings’ to prevent water runoff and erosion Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Children and a woman sit outside a small shop in Mishigi, a village of 130 people near the eastern town of Dire Dawa Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Dadi Yadete, 72, took a gamble three years ago and started growing apples, a fruit that he didn’t know anything about. Hesitant and doubtful initially, he planted 12 trees, but the experiment, supported under a Meret scheme, has paid off. He now has 70 trees in the village of Thefebanti near the town of Dire Dawa, an hour's flight from the capital, Addis Ababa. Once a recipient of food aid, he no longer needs it Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Women from Thefebanti village potting tree seedlings. The trees include prodocarpus, which are good for timber, hagenia and juniper Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Grow bags with an ingenious watering device made up of three empty plastic bottles joined together. A sponge is inserted in the device, which releases water slowly into the soil. The bags can be used to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, Swiss chard and pigeon pea. The watering device was designed by Moges Gorfe, who heads the Ethiopian NGO Ratson Photograph: Mark Tran for the Guardian

People who are HIV-positive gather at a government distribution centre in Debre Zeit, 50km south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, to receive their monthly rations under the World Food Programme's Urban HIV and Aids programme. Those who benefit from the food programme must also attend classes that train them in money-making activities. Urban gardening, one of the activities, is a project run by Ratson Photograph: Mark Tran for the Guardian

Belaynesh, 37, is a beneficiary of the World Food Programme's Urban HIV and Aids programme. She received training to grow food in her garden. Her 'urban gardening' has allowed her and her husband to not only feed their seven children, but also make enough cash to build a small barn for four cows. Only a year ago her husband, Dabe, nearly died. Both Belaynesh and Dabe are HIV-positive Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian

Belaynesh has turned out to be someone with green fingers. Her front garden is full of plants and vegetables. They include false banana (it looks like a banana tree, but is actually cassava), tomatoes, cabbage and Swiss chard Photograph: Mark Tran for The Guardian