Ethiopia's agriculture is dominated by smallholder farming, contributing significantly to GDP and employing over 70% of the population. The sector focuses on staple cereals for domestic consumption, while cash crops like coffee drive exports. In 2024/2025, favorable weather and government initiatives (e.g., wheat cluster farming) have boosted production, with total agricultural exports exceeding USD 3 billion in the past 10 months, largely from coffee. Key trends include rising wheat yields due to irrigation expansion and a push for sustainable practices amid climate challenges like droughts.
Main Crops Grown (Domestic Focus)
- Teff: 5.5M MT annually; highlands (Amhara, Oromia). Resilient to poor soils but vulnerable to erratic rains.
- Maize: 10.5M MT; southern lowlands (SNNPR). Yields improved by 10-15% with hybrid seeds.
- Wheat: 30M MT record; Oromia/Amhara mechanization. Accounts for major domestic cereal supply.
- Sorghum and Barley: Sorghum 4.5M MT (arid Tigray/Afar); barley 2M MT (highlands).
- Pulses: 3.2M MT (beans, chickpeas); central highlands.
- Oilseeds: 1.1M MT (sesame); western lowlands.
- Other: Sugarcane 5.2M MT; vegetables/potatoes. Food crops hold 51.5% market share.
Main Crops Exported (Trade Focus)
- Coffee: USD 2.2B YTD; 520k MT Arabica (Sidama). Represents ~50% of ag exports; prices up 20% due to global demand.
- Pulses and Oilseeds: USD 650M; to Middle East/China.
- Other: Flowers, hides; avocados up 15%.
Agricultural Products Imported (Trade Focus)
- Wheat: 1.3M MT; from Russia/Ukraine at ~$250/MT.
- Palm Oil: ~550k MT annually (90% imported); Malaysia/Indonesia sources.
- Rice: 250k MT; Asian basmati (Pakistan/India).
- Maize: 150k MT for feed gaps; South Africa/Ukraine.
- Sugar: 75k MT refined; Brazil/India.
Sustainable Inputs & Equipment
- Animal Feed: Imports rising to 3.2M kg by 2028; soybean meal from China boosts livestock yields 20%. $300/MT.
- Fertilizers: USD 1.2B (2023 baseline, +10% 2025); 658k MT arrived by Mar 2025. Enhances soil NPK for +15% teff/maize harvests; subsidized urea at $400/MT.
- Pesticides: Insecticides to 8M kg by 2026; herbicides 14k tons. Targets locusts/bollworms for 25% yield protection; imports from India at $5-7/L.
- Ag Equipment: Tractors plowing rate 25%; farm tractors market +12% CAGR. EVs exempt from duties; farmer kits (seed drills, harvesters) at $2k/unit.
- FMD Vaccines: Quadrivalent registered Aug 2024; 1M-dose imports from SA. Eradicates 30% losses; $10/dose.
- Solar Water Pumps: Ending fossil imports; 13kW systems leased at $0.05/kWh savings. Boosts irrigation 40%, output +30%; 100+ units via Winrock.
Interactivity Simulation
Button: Simulate RFQ & Match
Action: Bundling DAP fertilizer + solar pump for 100 units at $5k total for Oromia farmers. Yield boost: +20%.
