Summer wheat cultivation through irrigation promising: PM

Addis Ababa, January 7, 2021 (FBC) –Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said “summer wheat cultivation through irrigation has been promising thus far.”

“If we continue capitalizing on these gains, our wheat import substitution aspirations will be within reach,” he said in a tweet.

The Ministry of Agriculture recently told the Parliament that cultivation through irrigation this year will help the country to cut wheat import by more than half.

According to the Ministry, Ethiopia imports 17 million quintals of wheat annually.

But the 10 million quintals to be harvested from 300,000hct of irrigated land this year will enable the country to reduce wheat import by more than half.

Ethiopia envisaged ending wheat import of the country within the next three to five years.