Addis Ababa, July 9, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Bounty of the Basket (Yelemat Trufat) initiative is delivering tangible results in advancing the country’s food self-sufficiency and nutritional security goals, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced.
Briefing the media on the implementation of the initiative, State Minister of Agriculture Fikru Regassa said the program is strengthening the country’s economic capacity while supporting ongoing efforts to achieve food sovereignty.
According to the state minister, annual milk production has increased from 7.1 billion liters when the initiative was launched to 15.7 billion liters this year.
He also noted that the annual distribution of day-old chicks has risen sharply from 26 million before the initiative to 184 million this year.
Egg production has climbed from 3.2 billion to 11.7 billion eggs, while poultry meat production has expanded from 90,000 metric tons to 253,000 metric tons, he added.
Fikru said the initiative has also produced encouraging results in apiculture and honey production, with interventions across the sector creating substantial employment opportunities.
He further highlighted notable progress in aquaculture through the expanded use of natural water bodies and artificial ponds.
By strengthening the operational capacity of existing hatcheries, the annual distribution of fish fingerlings has surged from 300,000 to 16.5 million, resulting in a fourfold increase in national fish production since the initiative was launched.
The state minister said the program is playing a key role in improving the dietary and nutritional well-being of farming and pastoral communities while helping meet the growing urban demand for animal products.
He added that, by expanding equitable socio-economic benefits, the initiative is also contributing to efforts to stabilize local food prices.
Fikru further noted that livestock breed improvement programs, particularly in dairy production, together with modern poultry farming, have created extensive employment opportunities for young people and women.
He said improved cattle fattening practices and expanded veterinary vaccine distribution aimed at boosting foreign trade have also significantly enhanced Ethiopia’s meat export performance.
The Ministry of Agriculture continues to lead nationwide efforts to increase agricultural productivity through the adoption of modern farming technologies and improved livestock breeds, with the dairy sector registering particularly notable progress under the initiative.