Deputy PM: Rural transformation and modern farming show Ethiopia moving from dependency to self-sufficiency
Addis Ababa, October 30, 2025 (FMC) — Ongoing transformation in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector is a clear indication that the country is steadily moving toward overcoming poverty, according to Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh.
The Deputy Prime Minister was commenting on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit on Wednesday to East Shewa Zone in Oromia Regional State, where the Prime Minister and senior government officials reviewed the wheat harvest and launched a program to develop irrigated wheat cultivation.
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen noted that the current wheat, banana, and papaya cultivation in the zone shows promising results. He highlighted that the area, once reliant on safety net programs, is now witnessing remarkable agricultural development.
He pointed out that wheat harvesting in the zone is increasingly carried out with combine harvesters, and preparations are already underway for the summer wheat season. Despite the region’s short and hot climate, he said the use of groundwater for irrigation demonstrates that farmers are transitioning from dependency to productivity.
Temesgen described the agricultural progress in East Shewa as a practical demonstration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s call for Ethiopia to rely on its own human and natural resources rather than external assistance. He added that the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, along with the launch of banana and papaya production, represents a significant success for the area.
He further explained that market linkages, which had been constrained following increased production, are being restored, enabling farmers to sell their products locally—a crucial step toward economic independence.
The Deputy Prime Minister concluded that the developments in East Shewa illustrate that Ethiopia’s prosperity is inevitable, and that ongoing changes in the agricultural sector signal a shift from dependency toward self-reliance and sustained growth.