Ethiopia on track to harvest its highest-ever agricultural yield – GCS

Addis Ababa, November 16, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s Minister of Government Communication Service (GCS), Mr. Legesse Tulu, in a press briefing today, claimed that his country is on track to harvest its highest-ever agricultural yield in history.

He noted that the country’s ongoing efforts to revitalize and modernize its agricultural sector have laid the groundwork for this remarkable achievement.

According to the Minister, Ethiopia has embarked on significant reforms across various sectors, with particular emphasis on agriculture.

These reforms are designed to boost productivity and ensure food security, and the agricultural sphere has seen some of the most notable advancements, he elaborated.

The country’s focus on modernizing farming practices, especially in the wake of the recent weather conditions, has been a key factor in this success.

Minister Legesse highlighted the positive impact of timely rainfall during the winter season and the distribution of agricultural inputs to farming regions across the country.

These efforts have culminated in what is anticipated to be Ethiopia’s largest-ever harvest season, Legesse underscored.

“For the first time in its history, Ethiopia has cultivated 20.5 million hectares of land with crops,” he stated.

Of this, 11.8 million hectares are being farmed using modern, mechanized methods, signaling a major shift from traditional farming practices to more advanced and efficient agricultural techniques, the Minister pointed out.

He further explained that in areas like arid and surrounding regions, modern mechanized farming is already well underway.

To date, crops have been harvested from 5.3 million hectares, and initial results from these regions show excellent yields.

Looking ahead, Minister Legesse also addressed the importance of utilizing water resources efficiently, especially as the country prepares for the coming rainy season.

He emphasized that maximizing the use of available water will be critical to sustaining the high level of agricultural productivity and achieving continued growth in the sector, per ENA.

In his closing remarks, the Minister praised Ethiopia’s achievements in recent years, noting that the country has become Africa’s leading wheat producer, marking a historic milestone in its agricultural development.