There are multiple understandings of food self-sufficiency that could be applied at different levels of analysis (O’Hagen, 1975). According to FAO, “The concept of food self-sufficiency is generally taken to mean the extent to which a country can satisfy its food needs from its own domestic production” (FAO, 1999). This most basic definition can apply at the level of individuals, countries, or regions. In the context of debates on trade and food security, self-sufficiency typically refers to countries that seek to produce all or most of their own food for domestic consumption.
Although Ethiopia has a lot of arable land and Agriculture is the backbone of the nation’s economy, it was not adequately utilized. Lack of commitment, modernization system, technology, and the like is a serious challenge during the past many years. Following this, the country has imported wheat and other some commodities with budgeted high cost.
Hence, the government is taking various actions to reduce the challenge and ensure productivity to secure food self-sufficiency and promote export to generate income from the agriculture sector.
Among the many reform taking place since the past two years in Ethiopia, the Agriculture sector is given due attention. The government aims to ensure food self-sufficiency thereby protecting the environment. In this regard, four billion seedlings were planted a year ago across the country, which more than 84 percent being in good situation.
The government is implementing similar greening campaign this year. As part of this, most of the seedlings are fruits that can contribute to ensuring sustainable food selfsufficiency all over the country. In order to maximize productivity, expanding the arable lands, encouraging cluster farming, utilizing modern agricultural equipment, fertilizer, and the like is playing a significant role.
After some years, Avocado fruit will replace the coffee export which is able to produce three quintals per tree and enable it to generate six to eight million Birr per hectare. In addition to this, it can be possible to cultivate other vegetables like potato and chili since the avocado tree is planted sparsely from one another.
Crop Research Director at Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute Taye Tadesse (Ph.D.) told The Ethiopian Herald that the main task of the institute is adapting new technology, seedling multiplication, and distributing high quality seeds for farmers.
Currently, the government has ambitious plan on agriculture sector in order to secure sustainable food production in the country in particular and exporting in general. Therefore, the institute should support the ongoing activities through research based.
For example, producing avocado at the national average level, Ethiopia is able to produce 45 quintals per hectare but this number is increased to 400 quintals in the same space when the sector will utilize modern technology starting from preparing the arable land to the end.
Particularly, coffee producing areas like Jimma and Illubabur in Oromia State have high potential to produce Avocado fruit in Ethiopia. However, farmers they better to efficiently use onion, tomato, and potato in the free space provided among the avocado trees in the hectare. This has a dual significance that the farmers have obtain short term products and long term product from their farmland.
On the other hand, investment and chemical spray pose a serious challenge on the ongoing activities of providing domestic and foreign market. Therefore, it needs crucial activities ever than more, according to the Director.
The Ethiopian herald June 13,2020
BY MESERET BEHAILU
