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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Chapter I - Part 1 |
| Agriculture College - Graduation Jan. 16, 1958 |
| Higher Education |
| ... From the beginnings of recorded history, right up to the Middle Ages, and even as late as the beginnings of the Industrial Age in which we live, agriculture has always constituted the fundamental source of wealth for the human race ... |
| Selected Speeches |
It gives Us great pleasure to be present here to inaugurate the College of
Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, an occasion which marks a great and
far-reaching advance in Our programme for the promotion of agricultural
education. This institution will serve as a source of inspiration in carrying
out the agricultural programme which we have laid down for the future.
In establishing this College for the development of the natural wealth of
Our country, agriculture and animal husbandry, on modern and scientific
lines, Our main purpose has not been merely to develop and utilize these
basic resources to supply the daily needs of Our people, but, in addition, to
produce a surplus to be shared with other countries of the world.
Ethiopia, to some degree, has done this in the past. For example, when
the world was sorely distressed by lack of food immediately after the
Second World War, Our country, although she herself had for five long
years been struggling to recover from he terrible damage inflicted upon her
during the war, was yet able to perform a significant service in supplying
foodstuffs to the countries of the Middle East. And We have been pleased
to observe how, since then, Our people have increasingly devoted
themselves to improving the agriculture of Our country.
A country and people that become self-sufficient by the development of
agriculture can look forward with confidence of the future.
Agriculture is not only the chief among those fundamental and ancient
tasks which have been essential to the survival of mankind, but also ranks
first among the prerequisites to industrial and other developments.
Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, an occasion which marks a great and
far-reaching advance in Our programme for the promotion of agricultural
education. This institution will serve as a source of inspiration in carrying
out the agricultural programme which we have laid down for the future.
In establishing this College for the development of the natural wealth of
Our country, agriculture and animal husbandry, on modern and scientific
lines, Our main purpose has not been merely to develop and utilize these
basic resources to supply the daily needs of Our people, but, in addition, to
produce a surplus to be shared with other countries of the world.
Ethiopia, to some degree, has done this in the past. For example, when
the world was sorely distressed by lack of food immediately after the
Second World War, Our country, although she herself had for five long
years been struggling to recover from he terrible damage inflicted upon her
during the war, was yet able to perform a significant service in supplying
foodstuffs to the countries of the Middle East. And We have been pleased
to observe how, since then, Our people have increasingly devoted
themselves to improving the agriculture of Our country.
A country and people that become self-sufficient by the development of
agriculture can look forward with confidence of the future.
Agriculture is not only the chief among those fundamental and ancient
tasks which have been essential to the survival of mankind, but also ranks
first among the prerequisites to industrial and other developments.
| Solid Agriculture Base |
History affords Us ample evidence that mankind abandoned its nomadic
way of life and developed a settled, communal economy only when man
became skilled and competent in agricultural techniques. From the
beginnings of recorded history, right up to the Middle Ages, and even as
late as the beginning of the Industrial Age in which we now live,
agriculture has always constituted the fundamental source of wealth for
the human race.
Only when a solid agricultural base has been laid for Our country's
commercial and industrial growth can We ensure the attainment of the
ultimate goal of Our development programme, namely, a high standard of
living for Our people. Commerce and industry, being concerned in the
main with production and distribution, can only develop and profit from
existing resources, but cannot actually create things which did not exist
before.
Most of the districts of Our Harar Province are populated mainly by
nomadic people. Now that We are in a position to anticipate an adequate
water supply from the rivers and wells in the region, the area will flourish
and land will no longer lie fallow in the province if only the people of
Ogaden, Esa and Adal could be educated in agricultural techniques. All
this can be attained only by means of the wisdom which flows from the
fountain of education. While this College will serve the whole of Our
country, its being established in the Province of Harar is the result of
careful planning and consideration on Our part.
Even in this nuclear age, in spite of the revolutionary changes in man's
way of life which science has brought about, the problem of further
improving and perfecting agricultural methods continues to hold a position
of high priority for the human race. It is hard to believe that a substitute
can ever be found for the occupation of agriculture - a sacred task
graciously conferred upon man by God to serve as the source of his
well-being and the basis of his wealth.
way of life and developed a settled, communal economy only when man
became skilled and competent in agricultural techniques. From the
beginnings of recorded history, right up to the Middle Ages, and even as
late as the beginning of the Industrial Age in which we now live,
agriculture has always constituted the fundamental source of wealth for
the human race.
Only when a solid agricultural base has been laid for Our country's
commercial and industrial growth can We ensure the attainment of the
ultimate goal of Our development programme, namely, a high standard of
living for Our people. Commerce and industry, being concerned in the
main with production and distribution, can only develop and profit from
existing resources, but cannot actually create things which did not exist
before.
Most of the districts of Our Harar Province are populated mainly by
nomadic people. Now that We are in a position to anticipate an adequate
water supply from the rivers and wells in the region, the area will flourish
and land will no longer lie fallow in the province if only the people of
Ogaden, Esa and Adal could be educated in agricultural techniques. All
this can be attained only by means of the wisdom which flows from the
fountain of education. While this College will serve the whole of Our
country, its being established in the Province of Harar is the result of
careful planning and consideration on Our part.
Even in this nuclear age, in spite of the revolutionary changes in man's
way of life which science has brought about, the problem of further
improving and perfecting agricultural methods continues to hold a position
of high priority for the human race. It is hard to believe that a substitute
can ever be found for the occupation of agriculture - a sacred task
graciously conferred upon man by God to serve as the source of his
well-being and the basis of his wealth.
| Haile Selassie the First - January 16, 1958 |
| Share and Exchange |
Our country, Ethiopia, being blessed with an abundance of natural
resources need not be anxious about her own needs. However, it is Our
constant endeavour and Our firm desire, that Our people will produce not
only enough to meet their own requirements but that their production will
enable them to share and exchange the fruits of their labour with other
countries.
If only Ethiopia, with an assured wealth of natural resources, would look
at what the barren Sahara Desert has been made to produce by the
endeavour of trained scientists, she would realize that science is a source
of wealth. We would, therefore, have Our students and scholars accept
as their primary duty the attainment of scientific knowledge through
educations.
We have placed Our trust in this College to be the chief instrument for the
attainment of this high goal, and We are confident that the students who
have today received their diplomas from Our hands, as well as those who
follow them in the future, will through their achievements furnish Us with
tangible evidence of the fulfillment of this Our purpose and Our desire.
Agriculture and industry are indispensable one to the other. Only close
co-operation between these two branches of knowledge can guarantee the
fulfillment of Our programme of economic development for Our country.
This College, which holds a prominent place in the plans We have laid
down for the prosperity and welfare of Our beloved people and country,
can look forward to receiving the same constant support which We have
shown in the past.
It is with pleasure that We express on this occasion Our gratitude to Our
great friend, the United States of America, for the generous and significant
assistance they have given to this institution as part of their great effort for
the development of the spirit of cooperation and understanding among the
nations of the world. We would request His Excellency the Ambassador
to convey Our thanks to his Government.
If the late Dr. Bennet, who lad the plans for this institution and whose
great desire and tireless efforts to achieve the establishment of an
Agricultural and Mechanical College in this country are well-known to Us,
were with Us today to see the fulfilment of his plans, how happy he would
have been! With deep sorrow in Our heart, remembering the words "Man
proposes, God disposes," We pay tribute to his memory in this hour.
We would like to express Our sincere thanks to the Director of the Point
Four Programme in this country, the President and staff of this College,
and all of Our officials who have laboured to bring this institution into
being.
It is not enough for the children of Ethiopia to be recipients of education.
They should never forget that the responsibility for passing on this
knowledge to others and of handing it over to the next generation rests on
them.
resources need not be anxious about her own needs. However, it is Our
constant endeavour and Our firm desire, that Our people will produce not
only enough to meet their own requirements but that their production will
enable them to share and exchange the fruits of their labour with other
countries.
If only Ethiopia, with an assured wealth of natural resources, would look
at what the barren Sahara Desert has been made to produce by the
endeavour of trained scientists, she would realize that science is a source
of wealth. We would, therefore, have Our students and scholars accept
as their primary duty the attainment of scientific knowledge through
educations.
We have placed Our trust in this College to be the chief instrument for the
attainment of this high goal, and We are confident that the students who
have today received their diplomas from Our hands, as well as those who
follow them in the future, will through their achievements furnish Us with
tangible evidence of the fulfillment of this Our purpose and Our desire.
Agriculture and industry are indispensable one to the other. Only close
co-operation between these two branches of knowledge can guarantee the
fulfillment of Our programme of economic development for Our country.
This College, which holds a prominent place in the plans We have laid
down for the prosperity and welfare of Our beloved people and country,
can look forward to receiving the same constant support which We have
shown in the past.
It is with pleasure that We express on this occasion Our gratitude to Our
great friend, the United States of America, for the generous and significant
assistance they have given to this institution as part of their great effort for
the development of the spirit of cooperation and understanding among the
nations of the world. We would request His Excellency the Ambassador
to convey Our thanks to his Government.
If the late Dr. Bennet, who lad the plans for this institution and whose
great desire and tireless efforts to achieve the establishment of an
Agricultural and Mechanical College in this country are well-known to Us,
were with Us today to see the fulfilment of his plans, how happy he would
have been! With deep sorrow in Our heart, remembering the words "Man
proposes, God disposes," We pay tribute to his memory in this hour.
We would like to express Our sincere thanks to the Director of the Point
Four Programme in this country, the President and staff of this College,
and all of Our officials who have laboured to bring this institution into
being.
It is not enough for the children of Ethiopia to be recipients of education.
They should never forget that the responsibility for passing on this
knowledge to others and of handing it over to the next generation rests on
them.
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |