Addis Ababa:More than 4.5 million hectares of land are set to be cultivated under Ethiopia's summer irrigated wheat development program, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Teshome Geletu, the Lead Executive Officer for Crop Development at the Ministry, highlighted that this target represents a significant expansion of a national initiative integral to Ethiopia's strategy for achieving food sovereignty. The country historically faced an annual wheat demand surpassing 107 million quintals, requiring expenditures of $700 million to $1 billion annually to cover the deficit.
Agricultural reforms by the current administration have shifted Ethiopia from aid dependency towards self-sufficiency. The summer irrigated wheat initiative, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has facilitated this transformation. Since the 2021/22 fiscal year, Ethiopia has ceased wheat imports and developed infrastructure to enter the international export market, according to Teshome.
Teshome noted that these strides in agriculture have reduced reliance on rain-fed agriculture, fostering a new development culture. The initiative has eliminated the traditional single-season limitation for wheat cultivation, enabling up to three harvests annually in previously unsuitable lowland areas.
The program, which started as a pilot covering 20,000 hectares, expanded to cultivate 3.78 million hectares in the 2025/26 season, yielding a bumper harvest of 149 million quintals. For the upcoming season starting in November, the government aims to cultivate 4.5 million hectares with a projected yield of 189 million quintals.
Beyond production, Teshome emphasized that the initiative has enhanced the economic livelihoods of rural communities, shifting mindsets from dependency to sustainable productivity.
