Addis Ababa, February 19, 2026 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted how farmers in East Wollega are gaining more from their work, emphasizing that their efforts now yield greater value and opportunities through the Gibe Dedesa Farmers’ Cooperative Union.
The Prime Minister is continuing his two-day tour of the Wollega areas of Oromia Region, reviewing various agricultural and development initiatives across the western and eastern zones.
Today, he visited the Gibe Dedesa Farmers’ Cooperative Union in East Wollega Zone, where he observed the cooperative’s operations and the progress of its value-added initiatives.
Established in 1996 E.C., the union unites 207 primary cooperative societies and serves 167,000 farmers. PM Abiy noted in his social media post that the cooperative has expanded its role from providing agricultural inputs to enhancing the value of the farmers’ produce.
He also highlighted the union’s newly established modern flour mill, built on 2.8 hectares, which can produce 1,200 quintals of maize flour per day. “The factory provides permanent and temporary employment, creating significant opportunities for the local community,” he said.
The Gibe Dedesa Farmers’ Cooperative Union exemplifies how integrating farmers into value-added processing can strengthen rural economies, increase agricultural productivity, create jobs, and support broader regional development.