Ethiopia unlocks irrigation potential to drive food self-sufficiency, Minister Abraham affirms

Addis Ababa, August 26, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia is advancing sweeping reforms to harness its vast irrigation potential and secure food self-sufficiency, Minister of Irrigation and Lowlands Abraham Belay (PhD) said today.

The remarks came during a high-level workshop convened in Addis Ababa to finalize the National Irrigation Standards and Regulations, a landmark framework developed by Addis Ababa University in collaboration with the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The finalized document was officially handed over to the Ministry and the Ethiopian Standards Institute during the event.

Minister Abraham underlined that Ethiopia has placed irrigation development at the center of its agricultural transformation agenda, recognizing its pivotal role in ensuring food and nutrition security. He noted that recent nationwide reforms have already put irrigation projects on the right trajectory, but stressed that establishing comprehensive systems, standards, and clear implementation frameworks is essential to fully unlock the sector’s potential.

“Identifying the opportunities was the first step; the next critical step is to translate them into action through a robust roadmap, which is now under development,” the Minister said.

FAO Representative in Ethiopia, Farayi Zimudzi, described the new national standards and regulations as a cornerstone for strengthening food security, advancing environmental sustainability, and improving livelihoods. She reaffirmed FAO’s longstanding partnership with Ethiopia in irrigation development, which spans technical capacity-building, technology transfer, infrastructure design, and promotion of sustainable water use practices.

“The successful completion of this technical cooperation project provides Ethiopia with a strong foundation to guide the development and management of high-quality irrigation systems across the country,” Zimudzi said. She emphasized the importance of collective commitment to ensure the sustainable use of irrigation, adding that such efforts are key to building “a brighter, greener, and more prosperous future for Ethiopians and beyond.”

The new irrigation standards are expected to serve as a blueprint for scaling up efficient water resource management and modern irrigation systems, reinforcing Ethiopia’s broader reform-driven ambition to achieve food self-sufficiency and resilience in the face of climate change.