Agriculture

Government Targets 27 Percent Increase in Irrigated Wheat

Capital Ethiopia · 2 hours ago · Read the Full Story on Capital Ethiopia
Government Targets 27 Percent Increase in Irrigated Wheat
AI SUMMARY

The Ministry of Agriculture plans to expand irrigated wheat cultivation to 4.5 million hectares, targeting 18.9 million tonnes in the upcoming season.

  • Ethiopia is targeting a 27 percent increase in irrigated wheat production to 18.9 million tonnes for the upcoming cultivation season.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture plans to cultivate 4.5 million hectares of irrigated wheat starting in November, expanding the area by over 700,000 hectares.
  • Projected production is set at 189 million quintals, an increase of 40 million quintals compared to the 149 million quintals harvested in the previous season.
  • Teshome Geletu, Lead Executive Officer for Crop Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, disclosed the targets on October 31.
  • Average wheat yields are projected to rise from 39.4 quintals per hectare to 42 quintals per hectare, marking a 6.5 percent increase.
  • Historically, Ethiopia spent between 700 million and one billion US dollars annually on wheat imports before expanding domestic production.
  • Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated in May that national wheat production across all seasons surpassed 330 million quintals, up from 280 million quintals the previous year.