Ethiopia’s revised agricultural policy faces significant hurdles, with low mechanization, poor seed distribution, and outdated farming practices continuing to challenge productivity.
During the Ministry of Agriculture’s recent six-month performance review, it was revealed that only 41% of the planned 2,500 tractors were delivered to farmers. Of the total land cultivated during the Meher season, just a quarter was tilled using tractors. Although tax exemptions exist for irrigation and agricultural equipment, many farmers cannot afford to purchase tractors outright, prompting calls for innovative financing solutions.
Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente (PhD) emphasized the importance of local assembly partnerships to enhance private-sector involvement in supplying machinery to farmers.
Parliamentarians also highlighted inefficiencies in the distribution of agricultural inputs, such as fertilizer and improved seeds. Only 23.5% of the planned 400,000 quintals of improved seeds were supplied, raising concerns about corruption, inequitable distribution, and misaligned delivery schedules.
Opposition MP Desalegn Chane (PhD) questioned the sustainability of Ethiopia’s wheat export initiative, criticizing mandatory price caps on wheat and the high cost of fertilizer, which stands at 8,000 birr per quintal. Ethiopia’s wheat cultivation has grown steadily, reaching 4.2 million hectares this season.
Minister Girma reported progress in fertilizer procurement, citing 15 procurement cycles and a 20-billion-birr cost reduction. He assured parliamentarians that upcoming deliveries to Djibouti ports, totaling nearly 3 million quintals, would meet regional farming needs, though logistics challenges remain.
To address regional disparities in seed distribution, the ministry is developing new software to align local demand with supply more effectively. Reforms are ongoing, but challenges in mechanization, input distribution, and logistical coordination continue to strain Ethiopia’s agricultural ambitions.