The Ministry of Agriculture has launched the National Horticulture Strategy and the Flagship Program for Plantation Development, aiming to boost Ethiopia’s horticulture sub-sector over the next decade.

At the launch event, Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente (PhD) emphasized that the strategy is designed to strengthen the sector’s role in national food and nutrition security, agro-industrial development, and foreign exchange earnings. In the previous fiscal year, Ethiopia earned USD 565 million from the export of 286,000 tons of horticultural products. The country now plans to increase this to USD 734 million in the current fiscal year.

According to the Minister, the horticulture sub-sector is positioned to support Ethiopia’s broader economic objectives by replacing imports, increasing total agricultural output, and generating employment. The newly introduced strategy also aims to ensure the sustainable supply of raw materials for agro-processing industries, contribute to climate resilience, and enhance the country's food sovereignty.

The Minister also underscored the importance of addressing bottlenecks in the production and marketing of horticultural goods. Special attention is being given to underutilized crops like Enset (a loca staple), which supports the livelihoods of over 25 million Ethiopians but has been hindered by inefficient production methods and limited market access. A dedicated Enset flagship program has been developed to boost yields, reduce waste, and expand its cultivation beyond current regions.

To implement the National Horticulture Strategy effectively, the government plans to improve infrastructure, logistics, quality control, and food safety systems. The strategy will be rolled out over 10 years, with a target of increasing the sub-sector’s annual foreign exchange earnings to USD 3 billion.

Source: Addis Zemen