The use of high-yielding seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs is crucial for driving agricultural transformation. The increased adoption of these production-enhancing tools has been largely supported by local agri-businesses, including independent seed companies, fertilizer importers, distributors, and village-based agro-dealers who now see Africa’s smallholder farmers as valuable customers.
Achieving full agricultural transformation requires significant investment in growing supply chains that deliver improved seeds and appropriate fertilizers to smallholder farmers. Ethiopia has prioritized enhancing agricultural productivity to ensure food security with modern technologies. The government has been supplying fertilizer, improved seeds, and farm machinery such as tractors and combines on a wide scale.
Agriculture Minister Girma Amentie (PhD) said that ongoing efforts to modernize the agriculture sector, backed by the latest technology and increased access to inputs, would contribute to macroeconomic growth. According to Girma, significant progress has been made in recent years, with many challenges related to the supply, distribution, and usage of agricultural inputs now addressed.
Fertilizer, a key driver of agricultural productivity, has seen growing demand from farmers. However, Girma acknowledged that the Russo-Ukrainian War, tensions in the Middle East and local conflicts have posed challenges to fertilizer imports and timely distribution. Despite these difficulties, the availability of inputs has remained resilient, with the country purchasing 18 million quintals of fertilizer in 2021. To meet the growing demand, the government has purchased 20 million quintals for 2024 and plans to buy 25 million quintals for 2025.
The minister also noted that Ethiopia saved over 24 billion Birr on soil fertilizer purchases during this agricultural season alone. The country’s efforts to make essential inputs more affordable have been instrumental in boosting production and productivity.
Agriculture State Minister Sofia Kassa emphasized that ensuring sufficient supplies of fertilizers and other inputs is central to the government’s strategy for food security. By identifying demand and ensuring timely distribution across states, Ethiopia has seen notable success in increasing agricultural production. The rising capacity to supply fertilizers has allowed farmers, pastoralists, and semi-pastoralists to produce higher-quality products, further supporting the country’s rapid economic growth.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2024
