Transforming rural communities’ livelihood key to accelerating Ethiopia’s prosperity, HoPR Speaker says

Addis Ababa, October 30, 2025 (FMC) — Transforming the lives of rural communities and increasing agricultural productivity are central to achieving Ethiopia’s overall prosperity in a short time, according to Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives, Tagese Chafo.

The Speaker joined Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s high-level delegation on a visit to East Shewa Zone in Oromia Region on Wednesday, where they reviewed the rainy season wheat harvest and launched summer wheat production activities.

Tagese Chafo indicated that the government is working to improve rural livelihoods while also transforming cities to make them more convenient for residents and increasing job creation. He highlighted that, given the majority of Ethiopia’s population lives in rural areas, government efforts are focused on improving the lives of rural citizens and boosting productivity.

He described the recent achievements in vegetable, fruit, and crop production in rural areas, as well as the wheat production in East Shewa zone’s cluster farming system, as encouraging developments.

The Speaker noted that wheat harvesting in the zone is increasingly carried out with combine harvesters, demonstrating the potential of mechanized agriculture to enhance efficiency and output.

Tagese pointed out that Ethiopia is making significant progress toward self-sufficiency in key products, including wheat, rice, and avocado, emphasizing that the shift from relying on imports to increasing domestic production illustrates the success of these efforts.

He stressed that by continuing the ongoing initiatives, Ethiopia’s journey toward overall prosperity can be realized in a short period.

Speaker Tagese Chafo further noted that rural transformation efforts underway in Oromia region are also being implemented in other regions, contributing effectively to increased productivity.

He concluded that the ongoing work to transform rural areas is promising and encouraging, and that expanding these initiatives across the country will play a decisive role in achieving Ethiopia’s overall prosperity within a short timeframe.