Addis Ababa, August 2, 2025 (FMC) — Zambia and Mozambique have expressed keen interest in replicating Ethiopia’s agricultural successes, particularly its landmark achievement in wheat production, which has positioned the country as Africa’s leading producer.
The announcement came during the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment held in Addis Ababa, where Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Mtolo Phiri, and Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries, Roberto Mito Albino, held discussions with Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente.
The visiting ministers praised Ethiopia’s rapid strides toward food self-sufficiency and inclusive agribusiness development. Minister Mtolo Phiri commended Ethiopia’s transformation from wheat importer to exporter, highlighting its innovative mobilization of smallholder farmers and successful adaptation of wheat cultivation to arid regions.
“Ethiopia was importing wheat just a few years ago. Today, it is exporting and leading the continent in wheat production. That’s extraordinary,” Phiri said. “We are eager to understand how smallholder farmers were integrated into the process, especially in dryland areas. The ‘food basket’ approach Ethiopia has adopted is also very compelling.”
Phiri underscored Zambia’s readiness to collaborate with Ethiopia, particularly in seed development.
“Zambia is already among Africa’s top seed producers. I see great potential for mutual learning and partnership with Ethiopia to enhance its seed production capabilities,” he added.
He also expressed interest in exploring Ethiopia’s dietary heritage, including the cultivation of teff, and proposed comprehensive cooperation in areas such as farmer exchanges, technology transfer, and joint coffee production for domestic use and export.
Phiri noted the growing global demand for quality seed, exacerbated by geopolitical disruptions, and emphasized the role African countries can play in bridging the supply gap.
“There is an urgent opportunity for African countries to work together to meet this global need,” he said.
Mozambique’s Minister Roberto Mito Albino echoed similar sentiments, pointing to Ethiopia’s success in substituting over USD 1 billion in wheat imports through domestic production as a model worth emulating.
“This achievement is a powerful example for Mozambique,” Albino said. “We intend to return with a high-level delegation to study Ethiopia’s strategies in greater depth.”
He described Ethiopia’s progress as transformative, offering a roadmap for strengthening agricultural systems in countries facing similar climate-related and economic challenges.
“While Mozambique has its own agricultural strengths, there is much we can learn from Ethiopia’s journey. The priority now is knowledge sharing and practical cooperation,” Albino emphasized.
Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of South-South cooperation and called for enhanced collaboration across the continent to build resilient and self-reliant food systems.