Ethiopia, having achieved remarkable success in wheat production, is now setting its sights on replicating that achievement in rice cultivation.
The government's focus on wheat cultivation in recent years has resulted in Ethiopia becoming one of Africa's top wheat producers, achieving self-sufficiency, and even venturing into exports. Drawing inspiration from this success story, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture has identified rice as the "millennium crop" for ensuring food security and driving economic growth.
The country aims to achieve its ambitious National Rice Strategy Plan (2020-2030), which includes food self-sufficiency, export expansion, and import substitution in both rice and edible oils, according to Mandefro Nigussie, CEO of the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute.
Nigussie highlighted the government's commitment to this transformation, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to achieve these ambitious goals.
The recent award of the FAO's Agricola Medal to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his government's commitment to food security and innovative solutions in wheat self-sufficiency further underscores Ethiopia's dedication to agricultural transformation, the CEO noted.