Ethiopia Plans to Cultivate over 20 Million Hectares in Current Farming Season

Out of 20.4 million hectares planned for cultivation during the current "Meher" season, close to 7 million hectares has been covered with seeds, Ministry of Agriculture announced.The ministry further reported that out of the total land so far covered with seeds, 4.4 million hectares was cultivated through cluster farming.Ministry Public Relations and Communications Chief Executive Officer Kebede Lakew told ENA that 20.4 million hectares of land is planned to be cultivated during the current "Meher" season.To date 15.7 million hectares of land is cultivated both in traditional and modern agricultural cultivation systems, he added.According to the CEO, 7 million hectares of land is already covered with crop seeds of various types to harvest 616 million quintals.To realize this, training have been organized for farmers and development agents, he stated.The CEO added that the crops cultivated include teff, maize, sorgum, wheat, barley, and other types of crops.Moreover, Kebede further stated that s pecial emphasis is given to distribution of agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, pesticides, and employing mechanization systems.This year fertilizers have been distributed to different parts of the country by considering various challenges met over last year, and through coordinated efforts made by different stakeholders.Some 15 million quintals of fertilizers have been distributed to farmers so far, Kebede disclosed.With respect to improved seed supply, private and public seed multiplier institutions are participating in providing seeds.To curb the shortage of improved seed supplies in some areas, directives that enable regions to support one another in alleviating improved seed supply have been issued.The Public Relations and Communication Chief Executive also revealed that this year 107 million quintals of wheat has been produced through dry season irrigations schemes.Source: Ethiopian News Agency