Agriculture is an engine and backbone of the Ethiopian economy. Over 80 percent of the country’s population lives in the rural parts of the country mainly dependent on agriculture for its income. At national level, agriculture remains the top source of export and employment opportunities.
According to recent data, the agriculture sector covers around 90 percent of Ethiopia’s export and generates 90 percent of foreign currency from the export, contributes over 35 percent of the country’s GDP and covers over 66 percent of job opportunities. In the ten years perspective plan, the agriculture sector is planned to create for 13 million jobs at national level.
Considering this in mind, the Ethiopian Government gives due attention to the agriculture sector and endless efforts are underway to boost the productivity of the sector. With this initiative, the government is working to transform and modernize the sector and introducing different technological and modern way of farming systems. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture organizes an exhibition, Agri-Science Exhibition, at the Science Museum. Senior federal and regional states government officials are visiting the exhibition and vows to transform and modernize the agriculture sector. Here are among the words of the government officials.
The efforts being undertaken to modernize the agriculture sector are indicators of our country’s initiative of fulfilling food self-sufficiency and to compute at global level using technological advancements in the agriculture sector. It is a starting to build competitiveness in the sector.
Following I visited the agri-science exhibition; I realized that the agriculture sector is inclusive and it interconnects the rural and urban areas.
If our agriculture continues with the current momentum, it will play great role in boosting our country’s export. I call citizens to come and visit agricultural science exhibition to understand the journey of our country’s agriculture sector. Citizens should also realize job opportunity is not only available in urban areas, it is important to consider the job opportunities in the agriculture sector.
President Sahle-Work Zewde said during her visit to the science and agricultural exhibition
Ethiopia gives due focus to modernize its agriculture sector with the vision of fulfilling food self-sufficiency. In addition, as the agriculture is the major source of Ethiopia’s export and takes the lion share in job creation, investing to modernize the agriculture helps to accelerate our country’s economic development.
To increase the product and productivity of the sector, it is critical to introduce new agricultural technologies, apply digital agriculture and intensifying scientific researchers. With the use of digital solutions, farmers would be able to make data-driven decisions which help them improve their yield and reduce input costs. Hence, it is important to develop digital agriculture as information gap and variable weather condition remain top challenges of productivity in the sector.
All regional states are contributing their share for the development of the agriculture sector by investing in the potentials they have.
Girma Amente (PhD), Minister of Agriculture said during a panel discussion on Digital Agriculture prepared at the exhibition
This agricultural exhibition shows us that Ethiopia is not only able to fulfill its food self-sufficiency but also to produce surplus agricultural products for export. The summer wheat development initiative is a living testimony in this regard. If we repeat the wheat production achievement in other crops, it is possible to score remarkable development achievement within short period.
If we invest our full capacity to modernize and transform the agriculture sector, it will continue to be a great source of economic potential.
Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of House of Peoples Representatives (HPR) said during his visit to the exhibition
The current level which the agriculture sector reaches is a great potential for our country to fulfill food self-sufficiency. Agriculture sector remains the backbone of the economy and transforming and modernizing the agriculture would transform our economy.
Fitsum Asefa (PhD), Minister of Ministry of Planning and Development said visiting the exhibition
Developing digital agriculture would play vital role in modernizing the sector. Expanding digital agriculture would help to provide important agricultural information for the farmers. Digital agriculture can increase job creation opportunities in the sector and would play great role in the economic development.
Mandefro Nigussie (PhD), Director-General of Agricultural Transformation Agency said during a digital agriculture panel discussion prepared at the Science Museum
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 3 JUNE 2023
