Development Bank of Ethiopia Delivers 11 Combine Harvesters

The Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) has delivered 11 combine harvesters, valued at over 1.2 million euros (approximately 226.9 million birr), to agricultural investors through its capital goods leasing facility. This handover marks the first phase of a broader plan to import 50 such machines during the current fiscal year. The equipment was officially handed over at a ceremony in Addis Ababa, attended by representatives from Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the manufacturer, Claas. The leasing scheme allows investors to acquire expensive machinery through a hire-purchase arrangement, addressing high upfront capital barriers.

The initiative aligns with Ethiopia’s national mechanization strategy, which aims to boost efficiency and reduce crop losses by increasing access to modern agricultural tools. Previously, the DBE’s leasing program has supplied 450 tractors and 48 combine harvesters to the sector. Beyond this program, the government is also securing additional support, including a 375 million birr grant agreement signed with Japan in September 2026 to procure rice-sector equipment, such as tractors and milling machinery.