Addis Ababa: Ethiopia and Mexico have expressed a strong interest in deepening their collaboration in the agricultural sector, focusing on technological advancement, value chain improvement, and sustainable farming practices.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Girma Amente, Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, held discussions with the Mexican Ambassador to Ethiopia, Alejandro Ives Estivil Castro, exploring opportunities for joint projects in irrigation, drought-resistant crops, soil health, and Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative.
During the meeting, the minister emphasized Ethiopia’s current priority on enhancing soil health. He highlighted the country’s agricultural transformation, noting that five years ago wheat production relied solely on rain-fed methods, whereas today, irrigation is playing a key role.
He also urged Mexico to bolster its support for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), which plays a vital role in Ethiopia’s wheat production efforts. He called on Mexican private investors to support agricultural mechanization through investment and technology transfer.
The minister pointed out that Ethiopia has 7.5 million hectares of acidic soil and 11 million hectares of saline soil, underlining the importance of Mexico’s technical support to rehabilitate and utilize these lands effectively.
Ambassador Estivil Castro commended Ethiopia’s commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency and affirmed Mexico’s readiness to share its experiences in agricultural modernization and technology transfer.
The Ambassador also expressed interest in visiting Bonga University and its surrounding areas, citing it as a model for successful agricultural practices in Ethiopia.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will soon be signed between the two countries to formalize their cooperation in joint agricultural initiatives.