Ethiopia Prioritizes Agricultural Mechanization to Transform Farming Sector: Minister
Addis Ababa, March 22, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia is intensifying its transition toward a modern, technology-driven agricultural system, with mechanization taking center stage under the country’s Medemer development framework, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced.
In a major nationwide initiative carried out on Sunday, the Ministry delivered agricultural machinery and equipment worth 2.32 billion Birr to all regional states and the Dire Dawa City Administration. The large-scale distribution marks a significant step in efforts to modernize farming practices across the country.
The equipment package comprises 63 tractors, 71 walking tractors, 150 rice threshers, four egg incubators and hatcheries, five groundwater pumps, 460 solar-powered irrigation units, 15 field vehicles, 243 motorcycles, and 980 computers. The wide-ranging support is designed to strengthen both on-the-ground agricultural activities and institutional capacity.
Minister of Agriculture Addisu Arega stated that the initiative forms part of a broader national drive to shift Ethiopia’s agriculture away from subsistence-based practices toward a more efficient, competitive, and market-oriented system.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the minister underscored that advancing mechanization remains a key government priority, noting that expanding farmers’ access to modern tools is critical to phasing out traditional production methods.
The program is being implemented with support from the Government of South Korea alongside several major development initiatives, including the Food Systems Resilience Program, Sustainable Land Management Program, Emergency Locust Response Project, Productive Safety Net Program, and the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute.
According to the minister, deploying modern agricultural technologies is expected to raise productivity, enhance product quality, improve the country’s competitiveness in global markets, and strengthen national food security.
He also highlighted the central role of agriculture as a source of livelihood for millions of Ethiopians—particularly youth and women—stressing that mechanization is essential to ensuring inclusive economic progress.
Transitioning from labor-intensive practices such as oxen-driven ploughing to modern machinery, he added, will ease physical burdens on farmers, improve efficiency, and help reduce post-harvest losses.
In parallel with mechanization efforts, the Ministry is advancing a range of complementary priorities, including the expansion of irrigation systems, improvement of livestock breeds, adoption of biotechnology, distribution of poultry resources, and upgrades to animal health and feed systems.
The minister further called on regional administrations to ensure the proper utilization of the distributed equipment, emphasizing the need for strong oversight and accountability to maximize gains in agricultural output and productivity.