Addis Ababa June 21/2012The Ministry of Agriculture said more than 3.2 billion tree and fruit seedlings are readied for transplantation in this rainy season. Ministry Public relations head Tarekegn Tsige told ENA that the seedlings would be transplanted on 2.6 million hectares of land across the country.

He said the seedlings would be transplanted on depleted areas in Amhara, South Ethiopia Peoples, Oromia and Tigray states.

The head said so far 62.1 million trees seedlings have already been transplanted. Transplanting would continue in this rainy season.

The head said some three billion tree seedlings had been transplanted last year and 80 percent of these seedlings have taken roots. The head said this would help the soil and water conservation works underway in the country.