Ethiopia’s “Yelemat Tirufat” Program Marks Significant Strides in Agricultural Productivity

Arba Minch — The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture reported significant progress in the “Yelemat Tirufat” program, achieving marked improvements in agricultural production and enhancing the livelihoods of citizens.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed initiated the “Yelemat Tirufat” development campaign in November 2022 in Arba Minch, the program has yielded substantial results. The campaign is designed to increase the productivity and production of dairy, eggs, chicken, and honey, with the broader goal of advancing food self-sufficiency and nutritional wealth at both familial and national levels.

The initiative has played a pivotal role in creating job opportunities, promoting exports, and accelerating the pace of import substitution. In particular, the production of meat, milk, honey, and fish has seen notable achievements compared to prior rates of production.

Tsigereda Fikadu, Executive Director of Animal and Fish Resources Development at the Ministry, detailed to ENA the advancements made over the past year. She pointed out that more than 20,000 villages have been mobilized under the program to enhance honey, milk, and egg production nationwide.

Efforts in monitoring, resource allocation, and raising awareness have been intensified for the villages involved. As a result, milk production has escalated from 5.8 billion liters to 8.6 billion liters, with projections to reach 11.7 billion liters in the upcoming years.

Tsigereda also highlighted the substantial expansion in egg production and the distribution of poultry, with chicken numbers growing from 26 million to 42 million. These developments are evidence of the tangible benefits the program has provided to the population.

The initiative is not just increasing production; it is also reinforcing Ethiopia’s pursuit of food self-sufficiency. The Ministry notes that farmers, in particular, have reaped significant benefits from improved livestock resources.

With the program achieving considerable results in a relatively short span, the Ministry is keen on bolstering the campaign further. Tsigereda mentioned that the Ministry, in cooperation with various partners, is ensuring the required support for the program’s continued success.

Job creation is another positive outcome of the “Yelemat Tirufat” campaign, with the development of livestock resources alone generating 259,000 jobs annually.

The “Yelemat Tirufat” is a comprehensive four-year development program that is pivotal to Ethiopia’s strategy to enhance the productivity of dairy, eggs, chicken, honey, and related hive products.