Ethiopia Advances in Summer Irrigation Development, Covering 800,000 Hectares with Wheat Seeds

ADDIS ABABA: The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture has successfully covered 800,000 hectares of farmland with wheat seeds, marking a significant step in the country’s summer irrigation development activities. This accomplishment was revealed in a recent government performance review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, who spoke at the meeting, the goal for this year’s summer wheat cultivation is to cover 3 million hectares. The ministry has already made substantial progress towards this target, with a considerable portion of the land now sown with wheat seeds.

Minister Amenti outlined the broader objectives of the summer cultivation activities, which aim to harvest 117 million quintals from the 3 million hectares. He emphasized the ongoing preparations for the Belg and Meher farming seasons, including the procurement and timely transportation of vital agricultural inputs like fertilizers.

The minister highlighted the efficiency of the fertilizer purchase process, indicating a significant cost saving for the nation. Compared to the previous fiscal year, when 13.9 million quintals of fertilizer were bought for 1.59 billion USD, the current fiscal year saw 19.4 million quintals purchased for 930 million USD. This strategic purchasing has resulted in savings of 20 billion Birr for Ethiopia.

Furthermore, Minister Aisha Mohammed of Lowlands and Irrigation detailed the ministry’s achievements in expanding irrigated farmland. She noted that over the past four years, the area developed through irrigation has tripled, rising from 500,000 hectares to approximately 1.5 million hectares. This expansion has enabled the cultivation of crops up to three times a year in these areas.

Looking ahead, Minister Mohammed shared plans to develop an additional 400,000 hectares of land suitable for irrigation this fiscal year. She also mentioned collaborative efforts with the Ethiopian Investment Commission to attract investors to large-scale agricultural development activities, utilizing irrigation dams located in lowland areas.

The meeting underscored the Ethiopian government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity through irrigation and other modern farming techniques, positioning the sector as a key driver of the nation’s economic growth and food security.