ADDIS ABABA– Stakeholders within the agricultural value chain ought to strengthen collaborative efforts to improve productivity, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) urged.
The Ministry has held the 13th Agricultural Extension Development Partnership Forum yesterday.
In his opening remarks, Agriculture State Minister Meles Mekonnen (PhD)said that collaboration among stakeholders is critically needed to increase agricultural production and productivity.
He stated that Ethiopia needs to work more on increasing the variety and volumes of export products while substituting imports through unleashing agricultural resources to get adequate benefit from the sector.
He stressed that stakeholders in the agricultural value chain are expected to join hands to benefit the country.
Since the implementation of the national reform, Meles said that efforts have been made to revise policies, legal frameworks, regulations, and guidelines, and improve collaborations to grow the sector.
The long-standing rural development policy has been revised and a contract farming proclamation, which did not exist in the country, was prepared and approved, he said.
He stated that a Multi-Stakeholder Extension Management and Service Proclamation has been prepared and submitted to the House of People’s Representatives, while related rules and regulations are being drafted.
The goal is not to formulate policies, legal frameworks, and strategies, but to make them more accessible to all segments of society, Meles explained.
Agricultural Transformation Institute Senior Advisor Chimdo Anchala (PhD)said that the Institute identifies the main obstacles in the agriculture sectorand designs projects to address the challenges.
Achieving this transformation demands collaboration and a shared commitment to fulfilling the needs and expectations of all, Chimdo said.
Translating policies and strategies into practice is highly required to improve the sector and increase productivity. To this end, strengthening joint efforts is essential, he stressed.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 28 JUNE 2025
