Ethiopia’s “Bounty of Basket” initiative surpasses expectations ahead of schedule: MoA

Addis Ababa, November 6, 2024 (FBC) – Yelemat Tirufat (the Bounty of Basket) initiative, spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is not only meeting but exceeding its targets, delivering results ahead of schedule.

This success is significantly alleviating community challenges by enhancing agricultural productivity and stabilizing market conditions, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

‘Bounty of the Basket’ is a national government program being implemented to improve dairy, poultry, egg, honey, fish and meat production aimed at  boosting productivity and production as well as intensifying efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and ensure nutritional opulence at the family and national levels.

Well-organized production hubs across the country are now consistently supplying local markets, marking substantial progress toward achieving food self-sufficiency.

State Minister of Agriculture, Fikru Regassa, told ENA that the four-year program, which commenced two years ago, has already surpassed several key production benchmarks.

Milk production, which stood at 5.8 billion liters in 2021/22, has soared to 10 billion liters last year, with projections set to reach 12 billion liters by the end of the 2024/25 period.

This year, the initiative aims for an impressive 12 billion eggs, building on last year’s production of 5.7 billion eggs, up from 3.2 billion two years prior.

According to Fikru, significant advancements have been made in genetic improvements through artificial insemination.

‘‘Last year, 2.4 million cows were inseminated with enhanced breeds. While local cows typically produce an average of 1.5 liters of milk per day, the improved varieties yield an impressive 15 liters daily, underscoring the necessity for intervention. Although artificial insemination has been practiced in the country for 70 years, the initiative has revitalized this effort, leading to 3.5 million inseminations in 2020, with expectations to reach 3.6 million this year.’’

When Yelemat Tirufat (the Bounty of Basket) initiative was initiated, it was only 500,000 cows were inseminated; this number surged to 1.2 million in the following year and reached 2.4 million last year.

Additionally, 80 million improved chick varieties were supplied last year to enhance egg production.

Efforts to bolster production have included the provision of improved animal feed and fodder varieties.

The price of eggs has experienced a notable decrease, dropping from 13-14 Birr to approximately 10 Birr, contributing to economic relief for families.

State Minister Fikru emphasized, “Yelemat Tirufat is stabilizing market prices and alleviating economic pressures by boosting the supply of essential food items.”

The program has also empowered women and youth, enabling them to play an active role in Ethiopia’s food security efforts.

In line with a climate-resilient strategy, Yelemat Tirufat (the Bounty of Basket) initiative advocates for sustainable farming practices to ensure long-term productivity, supported by international research institutions.

He highlighted that the initiative’s achievements are positively influencing households and communities nationwide, driving Ethiopia closer to self-reliance and sustainable growth ahead of the projected timeline, .

The stabilization of market prices linked to the initiative’s outputs further illustrates its success, aligning with Ethiopia’s broader objectives for sustainable development and resilience.