Ethiopia’s Food Security in the New Era

Addis Ababa, June 10, 2025 (ENA) --- In a continent often portrayed as perpetually reliant on aid, Ethiopia is rewriting the script. The East African nation is now spearheading its own path to agricultural productivity and food sovereignty.

Over the past six years, the Ethiopian government has embarked on bold policies to enhance agricultural productivity and achieve food security. The endeavors are truly laying a foundation to ensure long-term self-reliance. Most importantly, these reflect Ethiopia’s commitment to breaking free from dependency and fostering sustainable development.

The success stories Ethiopia have been registering and its bold shift—moving away from reliance on external support—has drawn attention. Even the achievement in this cause is disproving skepticism and criticism of productivity and data.

Over the course of the last seven years, the Ethiopian government has implemented a number of strategic programs with the dual goals of eradicating hunger and promoting economic growth.

Wheat Revolution—From Imports to Self-Sufficiency

Once a major wheat importer by spending nearly 1 billion US dollars annually, Ethiopia has now overtaken the status of the largest wheat-producing country in the Africa continent. The massive dry season wheat irrigation projects initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has not only transformed the country’s food resilience but also became for the first time in history a net exporter. A significant chapter in history — when Ethiopia relied on importing millions of quintals of wheat annually to satisfy its citizens' fundamental bread needs, has now come to an end.

To this effect, the country receiving recognition from international organizations such as the FAO for making wheat production a central pillar in its pursuit of food self-sufficiency. Through the expansion of irrigated farming, the use of improved seed varieties, and the adoption of modern farming techniques, the country has significantly increased its wheat yield and marketable surplus.

The initiative increased Ethiopia’s annual wheat production to 231 million quintals.  The country has now significantly enhanced its self-reliance in wheat production thanks to the national efforts being carried out. In addition to completely replacing the import of wheat, this program strengthens food and nutrition security and demonstrates Ethiopia's tenacity in tackling global agricultural challenges.

In his recent wide-ranging televised interview, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed himself confirmed that Ethiopia has overtaken the status of the largest wheat-producing country in Africa, tripling Egypt’s output. This achievement, while met with some skepticism, stands as a testament to the nation’s strategic agricultural policies and commitment to economic development.

Moreover, prominent global figures, including Bill Gates, the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina and others are praising Ethiopia's remarkable agricultural achievements, particularly its success in boosting wheat productivity. They highlighted it as a model for sustainable development in Africa.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received the Agricola Medal from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2024.  This decision, which was made in Rome, Italy, acknowledged his leadership, vision, and dedication to nutrition and food security, especially in his pursuit for wheat self-sufficiency.  FAO’s decision was not only a gesture toward a nation’s efforts to realize food self-sufficiency, but it is absolutely a powerful international recognition of a leader who inspired his people to pursue food security through resilience and sustainable development.

Ethiopia's success in wheat self-sufficiency serves as a model for the entire African continent. Numerous delegations have been traveling to the nation to learn important insights into enhancing wheat productivity, especially in light of the global food crises that are causing widespread concern among people worldwide.

The Green Legacy Initiative: A Catalyst for Food Sovereignty in Ethiopia

One of the key drivers of Ethiopia’s food sovereignty transformation endeavors is the Green Legacy Initiative, an ambitious environmental campaign launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019.

With a vision to plant billions of trees across the country, the initiative aims not only to combat deforestation and climate change but also to support sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods. To date, Ethiopia has planted over 40 billion seedlings, many of which are fruit-bearing species such as avocado, mango, and papaya. This strategic focus on edible trees enhances food security, improves nutrition, and generates income for farming communities.

 

As part of the ongoing tree planting activities, Ethiopia’s forest cover had increased to 23.6 percent in 2023 from 17.2 percent in 2019. The initiative has also been inculcating the culture of tree planting among citizens while also creating jobs to the youth as it engages several activities including the preparation of samplings.

Ethiopia's forest cover rose from 17.2 percent in 2019 to 23.6 percent in 2023 as a result of continuous tree planting efforts.  Vast tracts of land are being restored through tree planting campaigns and community-based initiatives. This project is not just about restoring ecosystems; it is also about creating employment opportunities.  Local communities are often directly involved in this initiative, receiving training and resources to manage nurseries, plant trees, and maintain newly established forests.

The Green Legacy Initiative is therefore more than just a project. It is helping to revolutionize Ethiopia by turning its arid regions into breadbaskets and changing the narrative from one of fragility to one of self-sufficiency and resilience.

All things considered, Ethiopia is transforming its grim past of being portrayed as a nation afflicted by drought and other calamities into one that is growing economically.

"Bounty of the Basket"

Another national successful initiative that is worth mentioning is "Bounty of the Basket" (Yelemat Tirufat), which aims to increase food production and guarantee food security at the household and national levels. Launched in 2022, The program's main goal is to increase the production of fish, dairy, eggs, chicken, and honey. 

It has made good strides, as evidenced by the considerable rise in production of these essential foods. When the program was launched, the number of animals bred in the country was around 500,000 annually. Today, the nation’s artificial insemination efforts have expanded significantly, reaching 3.8 million.

 

Significant progress has been made, as demonstrated by the substantial increase in the production of these vital foods. For instance milk productivity significantly increases over the past few years. When the program commenced, the annual number of animals bred in the country was approximately 500,000. Currently, the nation’s artificial insemination initiatives have grown considerably, achieving a total of 3.8 million. Notable improvements have also been observed in fish production, as fish farming has evolved into a sustainable business opportunity, with both farmers and urban residents establishing fish ponds and raising fingerlings.

The output of milk, chicken, and honey has seen a significant rise, enhancing the family meal basket. Chicken meat production, which was at 70,000 tons, has surged to 208,000 tons by 2024, while milk production has escalated from 7.2 billion to 10 billion liters in the same timeframe. Additionally, honey production has jumped from 128,000 tons to 272,000 tons.

This initiative has not only enhanced productivity but has also enabled the government to more effectively identify available resources and address major distribution issues. Notable improvements have also been observed in fish production, as fish farming has evolved into a sustainable business opportunity, with both farmers and urban residents establishing fish ponds and raising fingerlings.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia is actively advancing not only its own food self-sufficiency but also contributing to the continent’s broader aspiration for self-reliance. By strengthening resilience, reducing dependency, and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth, Ethiopia is emerging as a model for agricultural transformation in Africa.

This plainly proves ensuring food self-sufficiency stands as a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s national strategy, carrying significant implications that extend beyond its own borders. By bolstering domestic food production, Ethiopia not only safeguards itself from global supply chain disruptions but also sets a powerful example of how African nations can pursue and achieve agricultural independence.

Most importantly, by prioritizing sustainable farming and innovative solutions, Ethiopia is also showing that Africa has the capacity to feed itself and has the capacity to ensure a prosperous, food-secure future for generations to come.

Ethiopia has made remarkable strides in improving its capacity to address emergencies caused by both natural and man-made disasters. In this regard, the nation's strategic food reserve has been growing, allowing it to effectively meet the needs of millions during emergencies.

Additionally, the country is pursuing an ambitious strategic policy aimed at reducing aid dependency by strengthening its internal capabilities for humanitarian interventions.

Ethiopia is striving to achieve not just food security, but also food sovereignty, recognizing that without food sovereignty, genuine sovereignty cannot exist. This is particularly important in the current global geopolitical and economic landscape, where power struggles often utilize food as a weapon, subjugating nations in the process.