Summer wheat production progressing well: Premier

Addis Ababa, December 12, 2023 (FBC) – This year’s summer wheat production is progressing well, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) disclosed today.

The Prime Minister, in a social media post, reminded that this year Ethiopia has the plan to cultivate wheat on more than 3 million hectares of agricultural land during the country’s dry season.

It is to be remembered that Prime Minister Abiy, during his visit to development sites and launching of wheat cultivation in the Afar region on 28 October 2023, disclosed that that the country’s summer wheat cultivation target stands at three million hectares, 1.7 million hectares more than last year’s coverage, a whopping 130% jump.

“Leaving aside previous years, when we compare last year to this year, 1.3 million hectares were cultivated in summer last year. But this year we are planning to cultivate three million hectares, 1.7 million hectares more than last year.”

PM Abiy further revealed that this year’s production is expected to exceed 100 million quintals…  “This is a significant development.”

He recalled that the rains in the just-ended season were good. “The winter was great and we added 2 million hectares more. Therefore, the production was excellent and harvesting is now underway in most areas.

In Afar region there is good soil, and water, the premier noted, adding “if we connect these elements and expand wheat cultivation, we can cover as much land with wheat as we have achieved at the national level.”

This summer, from the combination of both winter and summer wheat production we can cover both domestic demand and even export the rest, he projected.