PM emphasizes food self-reliance, data-driven farming, and community solidarity

Addis Ababa, June 7, 2025 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has underlined the importance of ensuring food self-sufficiency through data-driven agricultural interventions, community mobilization, and strengthened local food production practices across Ethiopia.

In the third episode of a televised interview aired Friday evening, the Prime Minister stressed that Ethiopia must not rely on food aid as a permanent solution to hunger, but rather strengthen its ability to feed itself. He noted that significant data has been gathered at the household level to identify vulnerable families and guide the government’s responses to food insecurity.

The Prime Minister also pointed to the role of backyard and urban farming in alleviating pressure on the food system. He emphasized that cities should no longer be entirely dependent on rural supply, but contribute through small-scale farming and household-level food production, including chicken farming and other practical initiatives that can be implemented even in tight urban spaces.

Abiy stated that in several regions, communities are already taking initiative, showing strong self-reliance and mutual support. Where citizens are organized and proactive, people do not wait for assistance but help one another.

To enhance resilience, the government is encouraging the establishment of food banks at the woreda and kebele levels, which will store supplies and be ready to respond to droughts or other emergencies in a coordinated way. These community-based reserves can be more responsive and locally informed than external aid.

In areas affected by drought, the Prime Minister said humanitarian coordination is underway with all relevant agencies to address needs. However, he insisted the focus must shift toward sustainable practices and self-reliance, even as relief efforts continue.

Food insecurity is not just an economic issue but also a moral and national security issue. Every citizen must be involved in ensuring communities can withstand shocks, produce what they eat, and support one another.

The Prime Minister also highlighted Ethiopia’s significant progress in reducing aid dependency, noting that the number of citizens relying on aid has dropped from nearly 27 million five years ago to about 3.9 million currently. This reduction of over 23 million people, he indicated, is a key indicator of Ethiopia’s rising self-reliance and development.

He further addressed the importance of solidarity at the national level, urging both government institutions and communities to work together, saying that long-term food security depends as much on changing mindsets as on mobilizing resources.