Accra:Strengthening agribusiness cooperation between Ethiopia and Russia is expected to accelerate technology transfer, boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and unlock new investment opportunities. This was highlighted by stakeholders during a roundtable discussion hosted by the Ethiopian News Agency.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Yaroslav Tarasyuk, the Russian Trade Representative to Ethiopia, emphasized that Ethiopia has become one of Russia's top ten trading partners in Africa. The bilateral trade momentum is projected to continue through 2025, with Russian exports to Ethiopia increasing fourfold and Ethiopian exports to Russia doubling.
Ethiopia exported 18,000 tons of green coffee valued at 123 million USD to Russia, along with flowers, fruits, vegetables, avocados, herbs, and other agricultural products. In return, Russia supplies Ethiopia with essential commodities such as mineral fertilizers and sunflower oil. Tarasyuk stressed the importance of expanding cooperation to include joint investments, technology transfer, and local production of agricultural machinery and inputs.
Weyssa Garedew, Director of the Crop Commercialization Program at the Agricultural Transformation Institute, noted that agriculture is a key component of Ethiopia's economy, contributing 30 to 40 percent of the GDP and supporting approximately 79 million people. Despite this, factors like population growth, climate change, and limited access to inputs hinder productivity. He highlighted the need for reliable fertilizer supplies, mechanization, and modern technologies to transform the sector.
Plans are underway to establish around 50 agribusiness companies to accelerate commercialization, boost agro-processing, and improve market access for farmers. Habtamu Million, Country Head of Promising International Trading Company, emphasized the necessity of expanding domestic processing of agricultural commodities to improve food security, create jobs, and facilitate technology transfer.
Dareskedar Taye, Senior Lead Researcher at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the role of the diaspora in bridging Ethiopian and Russian businesses. He pointed out that improved investment conditions and stronger institutional links are essential for maximizing this potential.
Tsedeke Abate, former Director General of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, stressed the urgency of prioritizing productivity and diversification to meet the needs of Ethiopia's growing population, projected to reach 205 to 210 million by 2050. He noted that Ethiopia spent approximately 2.6 billion USD on food imports in 2023, including 684 million USD on cooking oil.
The stakeholders agreed that deepening agribusiness cooperation between Ethiopia and Russia will enhance agricultural productivity, expand domestic processing, improve food security, and open new avenues for investment and technology transfer.
