ADDIS ABABA—The horticulture sector could play a crucial role in transforming Ethiopia's agriculture, according to Yihenew Zewdie, the Country Director for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Zewdie emphasized the sector's potential for growth and significant impact on the economy during an exclusive interview with ENA.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ethiopia's strategic location near Africa, the Middle East, and Europe positions it well for competitive production and export of horticultural products. He pointed out the sector's capacity for generating employment, particularly among youth and women, and its role in economic empowerment. AGRA views horticulture not only as an underexploited area within agriculture but also as a vital source of income for numerous smallholder farmers, including women and the youth.

AGRA's collaboration with the Ethiopian government has been robust, focusing on partnerships with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute, and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research. Zewdie noted that one of AGRA's key objectives is to enhance the policy implementation capacity of governments and to support the execution of programs effectively. He highlighted a current grant aimed at boosting the Ministry of Agriculture's ability to coordinate priority crop value chains and to develop specific directives and regulations following recent legislative changes.

By supporting governmental efforts, AGRA aims to foster an environment conducive to agricultural and food systems transformation in Ethiopia, a move Zewdie deems essential for the country's future.