Agriculture is at the epicenter of Ethiopian economy and its existence as it is enjoying vast arable land, diversities of agricultural products and committed farmers. However, Ethiopian agricultural products still have struggled to be competent at international level; even satisfying local demand needs further activities to accomplish. As agriculture experts agree, Ethiopian agriculture needs to adopt modern farming systems so as to see increase in both quality and quantity. Government also recognized the use of modern farming technics, equipment and inputs are imperative to advance the sector.
Cognizant of this, Ethiopia has been restructuring the agriculture sector to help sustain gradual growth of the sector, which currently contributing largest share in its economy. In 2015, Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses Corporation was established merging the state owned enterprises namely Ethiopian seed enterprise, Agricultural Equipment and Technical Services Share Company, Agricultural Inputs Supply Enterprises, Natural Gum Processing and Marketing Enterprises, and Agricultural Mechanization Services Enterprise. The cooperation is now playing significant role in advancing the sector by supplying select seeds, fertilizers, agro chemicals, animal drug and other inputs. In some selected zones of Oromia regional state, government offered tractors and harvesting combiners which would detach them from age old farming that use manual labor or oxen to farming. In addition to this, Agricultural Business Corporation is importing and distributing of select seeds, fertilizers, and agro chemicals across the country.
Along the restructuring and provision of materials, government identified areas that need to get special attention. Teff, wheat, maize, sorghum and barley are major cereals that are the core of Ethiopia’s agriculture and food economy. Hence, wheat production is among areas that have got special attention as agronomists, extension workers and other concerned stakes are united in rigorously following up and providing support to farmers.
Ethiopian government recently announced that the country should become wheat self-sufficient over the next four years. Wheat self-sufficiency means reducing foreign currency expenditure, increasing income of farmers and food safety. According to scientific reports, Ethiopia is the largest producer in sub-Saharan Africa yet remains a net importer. As to Hans Braun, global wheat program director, Ethiopian farmers can achieve self-sufficiency if they have the right seeds, the right agronomy and the right policy support. Other researchers indicate the need to fight pest and disease.
Amid this, The Ethiopian Herald got a chance to observe in person farm sites that are implementing everything the country proposed. The field sites in East Shewa Zone of Oromia regional state are known for production of wheat, teff and barely. Farmers in these sites are employing agrochemicals to fight pest, disease and repel weeds.
Meskerem Tesfaye, an extension worker in Shagi Sherera locality, in East Shewa said that much of land in this locality is producing wheat. As 984 hectares from total 1,100 hectares of land is covered in wheat, farmers organized in cluster and ploughed their land using tractors. Most importantly, the farmers have been effective by using up to date agro chemicals. “We are producing wheat in mass. We understand to produce in quality and quantity we have to train farmers on the use of agrochemicals. We have been recommending farmers to use effective agro chemicals. We found the new agro chemical Super Palace very helpful. The agrochemicals grow produces with no or limited weeds,” the farmers said. Farmers are happy of this and telling the secret of their success to others farmers.
The farmers also speak up about the benefit of using improved agrochemicals. Taddese Lencho, a farmer of the surrounding said: “We work hard but were getting less due to poor seed and lack of agro chemicals to fight weed. But now this agro chemical is giving quality and surplus production dispose of weeds.”
Another farmer, Fayissa Buta, said passionately about the benefit of cluster farming and agro chemicals: “Cluster farming isn’t just organizing the land alone. Rather, it would unite farmers together for better result. If the farmers have good understanding about cluster farming, it would be easy to implement the system and yield results. This is our third year and we have used 230 hectares of land to cultivate wheat. We advise other farmers to join the cluster farming system. It would be good for mechanization. For instance, from the farm ploughed using tractors, fellow farmers are getting better out of it. More and more farmers are joining us. We have got expertise help from extension works. We used chemicals and now the farm is captivating as it is seen.”
Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses Corporation supplier unit manager Gisilaw Tulu said there has been significant increase in importing and distributing of agro chemicals in the past two years. Gisilaw added that there has been an increase in production given the supply of quality agro chemicals and implementation of cluster farming. “We are supplying the agrochemicals based on farmers’ demand that come through unions, localities, and federal. There is a demand increase for agro chemicals and it has helped to produce for rapidly increasing population. It is becoming possible because we are employing technology. Business people, Unions and the federal government are working together to excel the production.”
He said the supply of agrochemicals is efficiently underway because government gave due attention to the sector. “Beginning from last two years, Ministry of Agriculture has secured enough foreign currency that would be used for importation of materials. The supply is in good shape. We have imported 1.1 billion liters of agrochemicals. We will provide agrochemicals in better capacity for next year. As you seen, the agrochemical we supplied is this much effective. We are happy of this and we expect more farmers to be our customer and be more productive,” he remarked.
As to Gisilaw, the corporation is benefitting farmers as it is providing quality products in discount price. “We are supplying fertilizers in stable price. If this isn’t provided by the government with subsidiary, the price of fertilizer would be impossible to afford by the farmers. About agrochemicals, we are playing huge role in providing quality agrochemicals. Select seeds are also being provided. Without these supplies, the production will face considerable challenge. So, using improved technology is a benefit for the nation and for farmers as it is catalyzing productivity and minimizing labor,” he added.
The Ethiopian Herald also visited a group of young and educated farmers. The group named Daka Dima comprised 27 farmers with farming experience and resources. Among the members, Nuri Mohammed said that the change in production of wheat came following government’s due attention to the sector. “The change here began as government gave special focus to wheat production. People from government are very active. They gave us every support needed. For instance, last week there was shortage of rain and we had to use water pamper to get water from the nearby river. They provided us additional water pamper. There are agro chemicals as we need. We use line farming and we use tractor and harvest combiners,” he said.
In addition to securing food safety of the nation, agriculture is also creating jobs for the youth and enabled them generate wealth. For instance, Daka Dima, which Nuri is a member is emerging as young entrepreneurs creating jobs for 12 permanent and 50 temporary workers.
Ethiopia’s wheat production is already on the rise with the projection of USAID to be 5.18 million tons in the 2021-2022. If it holds on this track, there will be a chance Ethiopia to fulfill its plan of being self sufficient in four years to come, it was learned.
BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
ETHIOPIAN HERALD 29 SEPTEMBER 2021
