Addis Ababa, November 14, 2024 (FBC) – Teff cultivation in the Afar Region has demonstrated commendable progress, according to the Regional Agriculture Bureau’s report to FBC.
Despite its sole reputation for pastoralism, the region possesses extensive arable land that can be effectively utilized through rainfed and irrigation agriculture system.
This has been facilitated by recent agricultural initiatives spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which have yielded encouraging results in this region and across Ethiopia at large. The latest teff crop production serves as a testament to the recent agricultural gains achieved in the Afar region.
The Crop Development Director at the Regional Agriculture Bureau, Mr. Hamedu Mohammed, shared with Fana Broadcasting Corporate that teff cultivation in the Afar Region has consistently demonstrated growing achievements.
Since 2020, significant efforts have been made to expand teff cultivation across various woredas in the region, and the initial results have shown promising outcomes.
Mr. Hamedu highlighted that teff cultivation, which initially began in a few woredas of the Afar region, has now expanded to 28 woredas, with these areas practicing teff cultivation through a cluster farming system.
Director Hamedu emphasized that currently, semi-pastoralists, investors, and businessmen in the region are actively involved in both irrigated and rainfed teff production activities. In the 2024/25 growing season, a total of 8,188 hectares of land in the region has been utilized for teff cultivation, as indicated by Director Hamedu.
He further explained that the Afar region has not historically been known for teff production, and that there are ongoing efforts to promote and increase the culture of teff production in the region.