Ethiopia producing wheat on 650,000 ha of land, achieving better results in production of heat-tolerant seeds: MoF

Addis Ababa, August 1, 2022 (FBC) – State Minister of the Ministry of Finance, Semereta Sewasew stated that climate resilient tech support from African Development Bank (AfDB) through Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Program is enabling Ethiopia to transform its productivity in the agriculture sector particularly in the lowland wheat production area.

Ethiopia is now producing wheat on 650,000 hectares of land. “That is why we say we are reliable partner producing results and we need all the support”

The TAAT Program has enabled the nation to increase productivity in heat-tolerant seeds farming in low land areas, she said.

The TAAT wheat Compact began to work with the Ethiopian government and seed companies to bulk up seeds of five heat-tolerant varieties released in Ethiopia under the African Development Bank-funded SARD-SC project.

By the end of 2019, the compact had established 20,000 ha of irrigated wheat, 10% of the target, in the low lands of Ethiopia, produced by some 28,000 small holder farmers.  The farmers used an existing irrigation scheme used for cotton and other crops that has now been adapted to wheat as a “winter season” crop.

Through the deployment of excellent heat-tolerant varieties by a strong local team of wheat seed system specialists, agronomists, and breeders, and a strong commitment of government to provide seeds and fertilizer to farmers, the TAAT Wheat Compact was able to record rapid progress in Ethiopia.