Jijiga — The Somali Region of Ethiopia is advancing its agricultural sector with a significant shift towards rice production, aiming to reduce import dependency and achieve food self-sufficiency. The initiative marks a strategic shift in the region’s approach to agriculture, with hopes of catalyzing economic transformation across the country.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Mustefa Mohammed, the region has successfully launched a rice production pilot project, cultivating 300 hectares of land as part of a larger 3,000-hectare experimental program. The project, aimed at substituting rice imports with local production, has garnered enthusiasm from local farmers and is seen as a beacon of hope for community development. Mustefa emphasized the region’s natural advantages, including ample land and water resources, which were underutilized due to a lack of technical knowledge before the federal government’s support enabled this groundbreaking success.
The pilot’s success has already set the stage for expanding cultivation to 3,000 hectares, reflecting the region’s broader commitment to transforming its economy from primarily pastoral to robust agricultural productivity. Regional officials are now actively seeking to attract both domestic and foreign investors to further develop the project.
Abdulkadir Iman, head of the Agriculture Bureau, highlighted the extensive community mobilization that has underpinned the project’s success, ensuring widespread acceptance and participation at all community levels. Further government support has been crucial, with farmers receiving necessary resources such as tractors, seeds, and fertilizers on credit through local unions.
Additionally, Mohammed Fatah Mohammed, head of the Regional State Irrigation and Basin Development Bureau, extended an invitation to investors to capitalize on the region’s agricultural potential, emphasizing government backing for such initiatives. This project, utilizing major water resources like the Shabelle River, also aims to diversify crop production beyond traditional staples like maize and sorghum.
Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amante, noted that despite Ethiopia’s vast land suitable for rice cultivation, the country had been importing a significant portion of its rice. However, since last year, domestic production has covered 50 percent of the national consumption, with plans to fully substitute rice imports within two years.
The initiative not only enhances food security but also opens new avenues for economic development and investment in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, potentially serving as a model for similar agricultural transformations in other regions of the country and beyond.