Ethiopia’s Agricultural Exports Surpass USD 3 Billion as Coffee Drives Record Earnings
The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that Ethiopia’s agricultural exports have generated over USD 3 billion in revenue over the past ten months, with coffee exports alone contributing USD 2 billion. The announcement was made during a performance review meeting between the Standing Committee on Agricultural Affairs and senior officials from the Ministry and affiliated institutions.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Girma Amente, attributed the performance to ongoing sectoral reforms and strategic investments. Over 400,000 tons of coffee were exported during the reporting period. In addition to coffee, other export items contributing to the total included horticultural products, spices, livestock, and animal products.
Dr. Girma also reported that more than 7 billion seedlings have been prepared under the Green Legacy Forestry Program, of which 500 million have already been planted. Notably, 3.5 billion seedlings are said to offer co-benefits such as economic value and ecological restoration.
Furthermore, he confirmed the procurement of 24 million tons of fertilizer for the upcoming farming season, with 12 million quintals already delivered to regional states. However, the Minister urged stakeholders to address existing distribution inefficiencies to ensure timely access for farmers.
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Solomon Lale, stated that 31 million hectares of land have been prepared for agricultural activity, with 7 million hectares of new land brought into production this year. He emphasized the importance of addressing soil acidity challenges affecting more than 7 million hectares nationwide and called for the accelerated implementation of recently ratified agricultural reforms.
The Committee also underscored the importance of resolving structural challenges—including logistical constraints, power supply interruptions, and governance issues—to maintain the current momentum in agricultural export performance.
The report further indicated that measures are underway to combat pest outbreaks, including pilot aerial spraying to mitigate the impact of coleoptera and other agricultural pests. In response to rising feed costs, the establishment of 28 animal feed processing plants is also in progress across various regions.
Moreover, strategies aimed at enhancing export performance in cotton, hides, and skins have been developed and are currently being implemented.
