Ethiopia’s irrigation programs drive climate-resilient agricultural productivity – MILLs

Addis Ababa, November 3, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s national irrigation initiatives are setting benchmarks for climate-resilient agricultural development in the Horn of Africa, officials said today at the opening of the IGAD Regional Irrigation Development and Agricultural Water Management Strategy workshop in Addis Ababa.

The three-day workshop, convened under the IGAD Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) in collaboration with the Agriculture and Environment Division, brings together senior officials and technical experts from all IGAD Member States to discuss the draft regional irrigation strategy and foster collaboration on sustainable water management.

Speaking on behalf of IGAD’s Agriculture and Environment Division, Dr. Mohyeldeen Eltohami Taha Hamed highlighted the critical role of irrigation in addressing persistent droughts, low water availability, and limited irrigated farmland across the region. “Advancing irrigation in agriculture is core to supporting growth, food security, and reduction of poverty in IGAD Member States,” he said, noting that only 2 percent of farmland in the region is irrigated while more than 75 percent of farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture.

Ethiopia’s Irrigation Projects Study and Design Lead, Yared Mulat, said that adopting sustainable irrigation practices is no longer optional but a fundamental necessity to ensure resilient food systems. He outlined Ethiopia’s national programs, including irrigated wheat and rice production, the Green Legacy initiative, and smallholder irrigation schemes, which collectively demonstrate the country’s potential to transform agriculture while aligning with continental frameworks such as the AU Agenda 2063 and the Malabo Declaration.

Yared emphasized that the workshop will generate practical inputs to strengthen the regional strategy, foster investment in irrigation infrastructure, and enhance cooperation among IGAD Member States. He noted that Ethiopia’s leadership in hosting the first International Irrigation Conference earlier this year, attended by over 1,200 delegates from ten countries, highlights its commitment to advancing climate-resilient agricultural practices in Africa.

The workshop also includes discussions on long-term planning, knowledge sharing, and operationalizing the IGAD Irrigation Strategy at the national level, with outcomes to be submitted for Ministerial endorsement. Officials noted that initiatives such as the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project (HOA-GW4R) and FSRP will continue to strengthen the water–food nexus across the region.

Ethiopia’s irrigation programs are being showcased not only as national achievements but also as models for regional agricultural transformation, supporting IGAD’s goals of climate resilience, sustainable productivity, and food security across the Horn of Africa.