Summer irrigated wheat cultivation is one of the agricultural sectors that has been widely implemented and effective in national reforms over the past seven years. This allowed Ethiopia to not only reduce wheat imports, but also export surplus.
In 2019, Ethiopia’s current reform government implemented structural, economic and sectoral reforms, with wheat being chosen as a strategic product for food security, raw materials for agricultural industry, import substitutions for exports, and job creation along the value chain.
A total of 2.6 million hectares of land were cultivated in both the rainy and irrigation systems, and with a record amount of wheat harvest (8.2 million tonnes) continued in 2022, Ethiopia achieved 100% and more than 1 million tonnes of wheat suction rates for export. This shows that Ethiopia’s new irrigated wheat initiative has proven to be transformative and a game-changer.
In return, this strengthens forecasts for a modest case scenario that revealed that Ethiopia will become a net exporter of wheat by 2023, indicating that the country is not only achieving wheat security, but also defending the possibility of replicating Asian green revolution in Africa.
However, the sustainability of current initiatives relies on efficient water management systems, private sector engagement, sustainable input supply, established input and output marketing systems, and leadership commitments at all levels.
Similarly, the Ministry of Agriculture reports that the irrigation programme for the summer of 2024 produced around 82 million wheat from 3 million hectares of land until May. Approximately 1.7 million hectares of land were harvested through traditional techniques. The combiner harvested the rest.
Ethiopia has significantly increased wheat production as its summer irrigation programme exported more than 120 million quintals of irrigated wheat. Additionally, it focuses on irrigated agriculture during the autumn and spring seasons to increase wheat production and productivity.
Oromia has the largest irrigated wheat farm. During this fiscal year, many parts of the state expanded their summer wheat irrigation experience. The ministry recently revealed that over 3 million irrigated summer wheat had been harvested from 158,000 hectares of land to the west and Kelem Uregazone in Oromia.
Kellem Wollega Zone Agriculture Office Head, Mulleta Wakjira, pointed out that over 129,000 hectares of land are grown with summer wheat irrigation. Agriculture experts provide expert support to farmers to prevent wastage during the production process. The development of wheat irrigated in the summer is extremely important in enhancing the benefits of farmers and ensuring food security.
Similarly, Feyisa Hambisa of West Wollega Zone Agriculture Office Head said 158,190 hectares of land within the zone are grown in summer irrigated wheat. “Over two million irrigated wheat has been harvested from 101,766 hectares of land, which was previously idle,” he said.
He also said farmers were provided with specialized assistance with wheat irrigated in the summer from summer wheat preparation to harvest.
Similarly, East Harage Zone in Oromia noted that irrigated wheat cultivation in the summer changed the labor culture and practices that not only ensured food security but also strengthened summer production.
The zone is one of the areas where irrigated wheat cultivation in the summer is widely practiced. Farmers in Meta Warda told Ena that since the start of summer irrigation, they have been able to produce wheat that is not only self-sufficient but also marketable.
Farmer Jemal Abdi said that irrigated wheat cultivation in the summer and past-initiated wheat cultivation will enable a change in the labor culture by strengthening summer production practices. “We make money by ensuring food security and selling it to the market.”
Similarly, farmer Batira Mme said on his side that irrigated wheat cultivation in the summer allowed farmers to properly use all their farmland. “The government is providing us with the input we need, which means we are improving our production and productivity. We are receiving full input, so we expect better yields and grow crops in cluster agriculture, which has a wide range of benefits in terms of increased productivity.
Meta District Manager Werdi Kemal said summer irrigated wheat cultivation covers more than 5,000 hectares of land this year. “The attention given to wheat production and productivity growth since reforms increased farmers’ profits.
And the government has provided resources to ensure the effectiveness of irrigated wheat in the summer and further increase production and productivity through the provision of soil fertilizer, with high quality seeds and water pumps becoming widely available. ”
Additionally, farmers in the ARI zone in the Southern Ethiopia region report that the first use of deep well water for irrigation has increased productivity in limited farmland. The development of well water irrigation not only helped us achieve our goal of increasing productivity by producing more than three times a year, but also stabilized the market by increasing revenue streams.
Witnessing this, Lisanu Ferenja, a farmer from Baka Daura district in Alizone, said that the farmers have been using deepwell water for the first time this year to grow farm yards. “We are currently profiting from the harvest and selling it to local markets at affordable prices. We hope to collect up to 80 quintals from a per-hectare plot.”
Kebede Adaneu, another farmer in the area, also said that the new government’s proposal for deep well water irrigation is a way to see alternative ways to use irrigation outside flooded areas. “Our initial efforts were successful. We have achieved over 130,000 Birr by growing using deep well water on less than half of the limited land, digging wells and selling tomatoes that cover the cost of selling to the market.
Abraham Atta, chief manager of the ARI zone, said that by thoroughly using all available water options in the zone, more than 11,000 hectares of land could be irrigated. “We are working hard to ensure sustainable food security at the family level and increase our income by expanding areas of deep well irrigation.”
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For the first time, 157 hectares of land are irrigated in 25 deep wells, growing a variety of garden vegetables, including onions and tomatoes, producing over 350 quintals per hectare. Admasu Aweke, deputy director of the Regional Agriculture Department and head of the Agricultural Development Department, said the practice of using groundwater and surface water for irrigation is widespread throughout the area.
He said 142,000 hectares of land have been irrigated this fiscal year, and 22.7 million quins of crops have been harvested so far. “This not only increased farmers’ profits by producing three or more crops a year, but also stabilized the market by providing harvested products to the market.”
Similarly, summer irrigation developments are being carried out in the Haraba Zone in central Ethiopia. “The effectiveness of summer irrigation developments in the zone is increasing. The development journey that began after reforms to ensure prosperity by overcoming poverty and accepting the environment is encouraging.”
Officials also revealed that only 37 hectares were cultured with irrigation before the reforms. This year, it is planned to grow 1,143 hectares of land through summer irrigation, with over 800 hectares of land growing in the first round alone.
The hottest state in the world, Afar harvests the best summer irrigated wheat seeds from 400 hectares of land under irrigation. And it is expected that more than 14,000 wheat will be produced.
