Ethiopia Hosts First International Date Palm Festival in Afar Region

Addis Ababa, August 28, 2025 (FMC) – The First Ethiopia International Date Palm Festival, a landmark event highlighting Ethiopia’s emerging date palm industry, is underway in Semera, Afar Regional State.

Officially opened today, August 26, the festival is jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, and the Afar Regional State. The gathering, now in its third day, has attracted strong national and international participation.

The festival seeks to foster healthy competition among Ethiopian date palm growers, while encouraging innovation and creativity to boost both productivity and quality across local date varieties. Organizers emphasized that the initiative aims not only to raise farmers’ incomes but also to strengthen value addition and packaging systems, positioning Ethiopian dates for entry into international markets.

Delegates from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other leading date palm-producing countries are attending, alongside representatives from international organizations and the private sector. The event provides a platform for knowledge exchange, investment promotion, and regional cooperation in advancing Ethiopia’s date palm industry.