Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Some 800,000 hectares of farmland has already been covered with wheat seeds as part of the current Ethiopian fiscal year summer irrigation development activities, Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amenti disclosed.
The target to cultivate during this year’s summer wheat cultivation is 3 million hectares, it was indicated.
The minister disclosed this at a meeting being held to review the government’s three month performance in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The meeting has reviewed the activities carried out in Meher farming season and irrigation development.
On the occasion, Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amenti stated the nation has planned to cultivate 3 million hectares of farmland during this year’s summer wheat cultivation activities to harvest 117 million quintals.
He added that some 800, 000 hectares have already been covered with wheat seeds over the past three months.
Preparations for Belg and Meher farming activities are underway; Girma said citing the extensive efforts being carried out to purchase and transport agricultural inputs including fertilizers at the appropriate time.
According to the Minister, the purchase of more than 19 million quintals of fertilizer has been underway out of the 23 million quintals required for the upcoming farming season.
He said the purchase of 13 million quintals has already been made indicating that some 730,000 quintals have arrived in the country.
He has also mentioned about the reform measures taken in fertilizer purchase process which has brought significant results as the nation was able to save 20 billion Birr this year compared to the purchase made last year.
According to the Minister, during the previous Ethiopian fiscal year 13.9 million quintals of fertilizer was purchased with a cost of 1.59 billion USD. However, 19.4 million quintals of fertilizer was purchased with 930 million USD in the current fiscal year.
Minister of Lowlands and Irrigation, Aisha Mohammed said for her part that the ministry has identified 10 million hectares of land that could be developed through irrigation.
According to her, the farmland being developed through irrigation in the country has increased by three fold over the past four years.
“Four years ago, the farmland developed through irrigation was only 500,000 hectares. But now it has reached about 1.5 million hectares that created an opportunity to cultivate three times a year.”
The Minister has also mentioned about the efforts being exerted this fiscal year to include additional 400, 000 hectares of land suitable for irrigation.
Irrigation agricultural schemes appropriate for investment and small holder farmers have been identified, Aisha said, noting that works are also being underway jointly with the Ethiopian Investment Commission to engage investors in large agricultural development activities by making available irrigation dams located in lowland areas.
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