Thursday August 29, 2024
JIGJIGA, Ethiopia (HOL) — Ethiopia's Somali Region is leading a transformative rice production initiative, advancing the country's goal of food self-sufficiency by reducing dependence on imports. The region's pilot project, expanding from 300 to 3,000 hectares, is crucial in Ethiopia's broader agricultural strategy.
Mustefa Mohammed, Somali Regional State President, highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating, "Rice is a staple for most of our population, yet we've heavily relied on imports. With our abundant land and water resources and now the necessary knowledge, we're making real progress in local production."
The project's success illustrates the region's shift from a pastoral economy to one focused on sustainable agriculture. Somali leaders are now seeking investment to expand these efforts and position Ethiopia as a self-sufficient rice producer. "We have a market-ready population, and we're inviting investors to help elevate this project," Mustefa added.
The success of this initiative is mainly due to community mobilization and government support, including access to tractors on credit, seeds, and fertilizers provided through local unions. The Somali regional government has also introduced irrigation projects to enhance agricultural growth.
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, who visited the rice paddies, said the irrigated rice farms in the Somali Region would benefit Ethiopia and neighbouring countries. He praised the Somali Regional Administration for leading this national effort and reaffirmed the government's commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency through such agricultural projects.
Ethiopia's Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amante, acknowledged the country's growing potential for rice production, noting that while Ethiopia still imports much of its rice, the domestic output is rising. "In 2022, we produced only 20 percent of our rice needs locally; now, that figure has increased to 50 percent. In two years, we aim to fully substitute imports with domestic production."
The Somali region plans to expand cultivation to over 40,000 hectares in the coming years.
