The Ministry of Industry revealed that the government targeted the substitution of edible oil import with domestic products by developing and harnessing the country’s potential in oilseeds production.

The Ministry’s announcement was heard during a national Oilseeds Stakeholders’ Forum which saw the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), and oilseeds processors.

According to Melaku Alebel, the Minister of Industry, the Ethiopian government is working with oilseeds processors and producers to increase production given the growing demand for edible oil and raw materials for agro-processing.

Ethiopia collected USD 17 million between August and February of the current fiscal year by exporting oilseeds. Sesame, Niger, and Castor bean were the most exported products. Sesame accounted 92% of the entire oilseeds export. Accordingly, the country was able to sell 65,179 tons of sesame and earn USD 110.8 million while USD 7.3 million was gained from the sale of niger.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald and 2Merkato Archives