Building Food-Self-Sufficient Generation Key to Realizing Nat'l Dignity, Sovereignty: Minister

Addis Ababa, May 21, 2026 —The endeavor to transition from aid dependency and nurture a food-self-sufficient generation is a critical agenda that upholds national dignity and sovereignty, Bikila Hurisa, Minister Coordinator for Democratic System Building Center at the Office of the Prime Minister said.

The Minister made the remark at a panel discussion organized by the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture under the theme "From Dependency to Productivity" in Dire Dawa today.

Presenting a discussion paper at the forum, Bikila emphasized that the government has placed the mission to eradicate aid dependency at the forefront of its national agenda.

He reaffirmed that the campaign to ensure food security for the coming generation remains a vital policy priority and will be pursued with heightened momentum.

To elevate the current encouraging progress to the next level, the Minister stressed the need for a comprehensive and holistic mindset to completely break the cycle of generational dependency on foreign aid and achieve national food sovereignty.

He pointed out that since Ethiopia is endowed with abundant water resources, educated and productive youth workforce and fertile arable land, the nation has all the necessary prerequisites to sustain its economic development and revival.

By leveraging cultural and socio-economic values that discourage dependency, Bikila noted that innovative agricultural development initiatives are already driving tangible and transformative shifts across the country to secure food sovereignty.

Noting that the vision of food self-sufficiency begins at the household level, he underscored the importance of empowering citizens to become large-scale producers, encouraging proper utilization and saving, and supporting their transition into broader investment sectors.

The Minister concluded by stating that the ultimate goal remains identifying domestic potentials, elevating public productivity, and institutionalizing a culture of self-reliance to ensure food security at household level.