Ethiopia Launches National Horticulture and Enset Programs to Drive Food Security and Export Growth

Addis Ababa, July 21, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia has launched two major agricultural initiatives—the National Horticulture Strategy and the Enset Development Flagship Program—aimed at transforming the country’s food system, boosting exports, and enhancing climate resilience.

The launch ceremony, held in Addis Ababa under the theme “The Future is Horticulture,” brought together government leaders, agricultural experts, development partners, and private sector actors to align efforts toward modernizing Ethiopia’s horticulture sector.

Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente described the initiatives as “transformative forces” capable of accelerating food self-sufficiency, improving nutrition, creating jobs, and enhancing foreign exchange earnings.

“These programs are deeply interconnected. They will promote value addition, import substitution, and inclusive growth across the country,” the Minister said, calling for broad collaboration from farmers, investors, and international partners.

Highlighting Ethiopia’s comparative advantages—fertile land and expanding irrigated farmland—he noted that strategic investments in horticulture could significantly boost domestic supply and export revenues. In the 2016/17 Ethiopian fiscal year alone, Ethiopia earned 565 million USD from 286,000 tons of horticultural exports.

The newly launched National Horticulture Strategy prioritizes improved post-harvest handling, research and extension services, marketing infrastructure, and export diversification. It also supports agro-processing and job creation for youth and women.

State Minister of Agriculture Meles Mekonen introduced the Enset Development Flagship Program, which targets food security for more than 25 million Ethiopians who rely on the drought-resilient crop known as false banana.

He also pointed to recent legislative reforms supporting contract farming as a step forward in fostering innovation and productivity across the sector.

Professor Ali Mohammed, advisor to the State Minister, underscored Enset’s critical role in climate adaptation, particularly in southern Ethiopia. He described it as a “climate-smart crop” with the potential to feed up to 100 million people across Africa.

Rich in protein, starch, and essential amino acids, Enset also holds medicinal, industrial, and cultural value. Ethiopia earned 3.6 million USD from Enset exports last year. Professor Ali added that universities like Arbaminch are advancing research to unlock the crop’s full potential.

The twin programs are central to Ethiopia’s broader strategy for building a resilient, inclusive, and export-oriented agricultural economy.