Ethiopia Targets 4.5 Million Hectares for Summer Irrigated Wheat Production

Ethiopia's Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to cultivate 4.5 million hectares of land for wheat production during the upcoming summer irrigation season. Teshome Geletu, Lead Executive Officer for Crop Development, stated that the initiative is a cornerstone of the national strategy to achieve food sovereignty and economic stability. Historically, Ethiopia spent between 700 million and 1 billion USD annually to bridge its domestic wheat deficit.

During the 2025/26 fiscal year, the country cultivated 3.78 million hectares, resulting in a harvest of 149 million quintals. For the upcoming season, which begins in November, the government aims to increase this to 189 million quintals. The initiative has enabled farmers to shift away from rain-fed agriculture and utilize irrigation to harvest up to three times per year, expanding production into lowland areas previously considered unsuitable.