Soil Mapping, Cluster Farming Drive Visible Agricultural Transformation: ATI

Addis Ababa, July 5, 2026 (ENA) — The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) reported it has introduced wide ranging reforms that are delivering visible improvements across Ethiopia's agricultural sector through soil and groundwater mapping, cluster farming, mechanization and policy reforms.

ATI Chief Executive Officer Mandefro Nigussie told ENA that the institute has achieved significant results by providing scientific data, improving farmers' access to inputs and technology, and advancing policies aimed at transforming the country's agricultural sector.

"In terms of deliverables and the results achieved so far, we have many. The major ones are: we have mapped Ethiopian soil fertility and health, and we also had a map of groundwater, shallow groundwater resources in the country," he said, describing the nationwide mapping as one of ATI's most important achievements.

According to the CEO, the institute has also improved agricultural productivity and farmers' incomes through its cluster farming approach, which organizes smallholder farmers to increase efficiency and strengthen market linkages.

"We also achieved a significant change in terms of productivity and income of the farming community through our approach called cluster farming," Mandefro said.

As part of the initiative, ATI established a nationwide network of one stop agricultural input service centers to ensure farmers have easier access to essential farm supplies.

"Within this cluster farming, we had a one stop shop that can provide agricultural inputs for the cluster farmers. This, we established around 365 shops nationwide," he said.

Mandefro added that ATI has also strengthened local seed production by supporting cooperatives to produce improved seed varieties.

"We supported cooperatives to produce improved seeds so farmers can access quality seed within the reach of the farming community or within the cluster environment," he noted.

Mechanization has been another major pillar of the institute's transformation strategy.

Mandefro said ATI established mechanization service centers that provide equipment services while creating employment and business opportunities in rural areas.

"These centers are meant for providing services, and the owners of the mechanization service center can generate income, and the elite trained technicians and operators get certified. They also provide the right services," he explained.

He noted that the centers are helping address the shortage of maintenance and repair services for tractors, combine harvesters and other agricultural machinery in rural communities.

Beyond field level interventions, ATI has developed agricultural transformation roadmaps for every regional state to guide long term development based on local opportunities and challenges.

"We have also done a transformation roadmap for all regional states, and they are guided by those roadmaps. The roadmaps can tell the challenges within the regional state, the opportunities they have and how they can transform agriculture within their respective regional states," he noted.

On the policy front, Mandefro said ATI has focused on strengthening the legal and institutional framework needed to accelerate agricultural commercialization and expand private sector participation.

"The key changes in terms of proclamation, regulation and directive is the engagement of the private sector, commercialization of smallholder farmers that are organized in clusters, and also agriculture finance that require special attention," he said.

He emphasized that Ethiopia's agricultural sector requires dedicated financing mechanisms, noting that conventional commercial banking systems are not designed to meet the financing needs of rural farmers.

The CEO further revealed that ATI has translated research and institutional studies into practical policy recommendations adopted by government institutions.

The institute has also prepared a new agricultural and rural development policy containing ten strategic directions and is working toward securing parliamentary approval for 23 related proclamations.

According to him, ATI's integrated approach, combining scientific research, improved service delivery, mechanization, institutional reform and policy support, is laying the foundation for higher agricultural productivity, increased commercialization and improved livelihoods for farming communities across Ethiopia.