Ethiopia plans 100 irrigation dams, six to be commissioned soon with capacity to irrigate 84,000 hectares: Premier Abiy

Addis Ababa, July 3, 2025 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) announced significant strides in Ethiopia’s agricultural development during the 42nd regular session of the House of People’s Representatives today, highlighting the country’s ambitious irrigation expansion plans.

The Prime Minister revealed that Ethiopia plans to build 100 small, medium, and large irrigation dams as part of its efforts to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food sovereignty. Of these, six dams with a combined capacity to irrigate 84,000 hectares are set to be commissioned soon, expected by September.

To date, Ethiopia has developed irrigation facilities capable of cultivating 220,000 hectares of land, demonstrating tangible progress in the country’s water resource management and agricultural mechanization.

Prime Minister Abiy further noted that cultivated land expanded from 26 million hectares last year to 31.8 million hectares this fiscal year, while total crop production surged from 1.2 billion quintals to 1.5 billion quintals—a 24.7 percent increase.

The Prime Minister credited the provision of tractors, pumps, and other mechanization technologies for boosting productivity, emphasizing that the recent achievements mark the beginning of Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation.

“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our export earnings,” PM Abiy stressed, calling on all stakeholders to intensify efforts toward complete food sovereignty and sustained national growth.