Irrigation Wheat Farming Strengthens Ethiopia’s Drive for Food Sovereignty: Ministry of Agriculture

Addis Ababa, December 26, 2025 (ENA)—Ethiopia’s expanding summer irrigation wheat program is significantly strengthening the country’s push toward food sovereignty, with millions of hectares already cultivated and production targets rising steadily, the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Crop Development Lead Executive Officer at the ministry, Esayas Lema, told ENA that irrigation-based wheat farming has grown far beyond its initial expectations, both in land coverage and total output.

 For the current 2025/2026 production year, about 2.7 million hectares of land have already been planted with wheat using irrigation.

Esayas noted that the initiative began as a pilot project in the 2011 Ethiopian calendar with only 3,500 hectares and has since expanded into a nationwide program targeting 4.2 million hectares.

 “This expansion has significantly boosted total production, allowing Ethiopia to not only meet domestic demand but also enter the export market,” he said.

According to the ministry, the summer irrigation season aims to produce 175 million quintals of wheat, reinforcing Ethiopia’s position as a leading wheat producer in the region.

 “So far, 2.7 million hectares have been covered with wheat seed, and harvesting has already been completed on 3.1 million hectares,” Essayas explained.

 He emphasized that irrigation-based farming is increasingly becoming common practice among farmers across the country, making a strong contribution to national food sovereignty.

He also said that infrastructure development, fertilizer supply, and improved seed varieties are being adequately distributed to sustain the program.

 The impact of summer irrigation wheat farming is already evident on the ground. Farmers in the North Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region report notable gains in productivity through mechanized irrigation farming.

 

One farmer, Sisay Desta, said government support has transformed his production capacity. “The assistance we receive has transformed our output and reduced labor challenges,” he said.

 Another farmer, Getu Desalegn, highlighted the importance of technical guidance. “The professional support from agricultural development experts, especially in mechanization and proper distribution methods, is making our crop production and harvesting more effective,” he noted.

 Previously, the Office of the Prime Minister reported a major surge in national wheat production during the 2023/24 harvesting period. In a social media post, the office stated that smallholder farmers cultivated 3.6 million hectares and produced 123 million quintals, while 2.9 million hectares of irrigated land yielded 107.7 million quintals.

 Overall wheat production reached 230 million quintals during the period, it stated.

 On November 18, 2024, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the start of the nationwide wheat harvest for the current season, stressing, “we must expedite this process nationwide through collaboration, as we have a bountiful harvest this year. Additionally, we should prepare for the upcoming summer wheat cultivation.”