@EthiopianFarmers – Ethiopian Business Review

Holland Dairy has inaugurated a new cold storage facility and wastewater treatment plant in Bishoftu, built with an investment of over USD 4 million. The project is part of the company’s effort to support cleaner dairy production and tackle water use challenges in Ethiopia.

The new storage unit can hold about one million yogurt cups, or 400,000 liters of yogurt, giving the company the capacity to better handle demand while keeping products fresh.

Holland Dairy processes both milk and yogurt using between 2 and 2.5 liters of water per liter of product. As the company grows, it says wastewater levels are rising quickly. The new plant treats all used water, mostly drawn from underground sources before it’s returned to nature. Some of this water is reused to help safeguard the environment, nearby farms, and local lakes.

The company works closely with more than 4,000 dairy farmers and 15 to 20 cooperatives in areas like Chancho, Debre Birhan, Arsi, Bekoji, Fiche, and Mukturi. These farmers supply the fresh milk that feeds Holland Dairy’s production line.

“If we want to grow, they need to grow,” said Robin Veenstra, CEO of Holland Dairy. “That’s how we see it. We don’t just wait and hope things get better, we get involved and help improve quality and supply together.”

Looking beyond its current stronghold in Addis Ababa, Holland Dairy has expressed intentions to distribute Gouda cheese more widely across Ethiopia and launch new product flavors. The company is also eyeing regional markets in East Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, as part of its long-term growth strategy.

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The Ethiopian Agricultural Works Corporation has announced that nearly 12 million quintals of fertilizer have already arrived at the port of Djibouti. Of this, more than 11.2 million quintals have been imported and distributed to farmers and semi-pastoralist communities across the country.

According to the Corporation, the latest shipment—carrying 550,000 quintals of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer—docked at the port of Djibouti on the morning of May 10, 2025. The delivery is part of Ethiopia’s broader fertilizer procurement plan for the upcoming crop season, which targets the import of 24 million quintals of fertilizer sourced through international competitive bidding.

The Corporation reported that, as of May 10, a total of 11,964,181 quintals of fertilizer have arrived at the port, with 11,228,142 quintals already cleared and distributed via agricultural cooperatives. This early delivery underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the timely availability of inputs critical to Ethiopia’s predominantly agrarian economy.

Since its establishment, the Ethiopian Agricultural Works Corporation has overseen fertilizer imports in line with national demand assessments conducted annually by the Ministry of Agriculture. The process involves strategic international procurement to ensure that adequate supplies reach farming communities ahead of peak planting periods.

In a move to support Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, the Japanese government has provided over 63,000 quintals of urea fertilizer through a grant aid program. The fertilizer, which arrived in Addis Ababa, is expected to help farmers enhance productivity amid growing challenges in the sector.

During the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sofia Kassa expressed gratitude for Japan’s continued support. She emphasized that the ministry is working to ensure the fertilizer reaches farmers efficiently and is used for its intended purpose.

Japan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Shibata Hironari, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Ethiopia’s agricultural development and broader economic cooperation. “Japan remains a strong development partner for Ethiopia, and we will continue supporting key sectors, including agriculture, to improve food security and farmers’ livelihoods,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew and State Minister of Agriculture Sofiya Kassan, among other government officials. The fertilizer, procured through Japan’s aid grant, has been transported to the Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation (EABC) warehouse in Addis Ababa for distribution to farmers.

According to the Japanese Embassy, the grant not only addresses Ethiopia’s urgent agricultural needs but also aims to improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen food security. Japan’s support comes at a crucial time, as Ethiopian farmers continue to navigate challenges such as fluctuating input prices and climate-related risks.

Holland Dairy Unveils USD4 Million Cold Storage and Wastewater Facility

Ethiopia Imports Over 11 Million Quintals of Fertilizer Ahead of 2024/25 Crop Season

Japan Donates 63,000 Quintals of Urea Fertilizer to Support Ethiopian Farmers