Ethiopia becomes Africa’s top wheat producer
Ethiopia has become the leading wheat producer in Africa, the Minister of Government Communication Service Legesse Tulu has announced.
His announcement comes following a confirmation by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), a non-profit organisation responsible for research and training to improve maize and wheat production.
According to the Centre, Ethiopia now produces 65% of all wheat grown in sub-Saharan Africa.
Recent projects, like ADAPT-Wheat, have introduced heat-resistant wheat varieties to increase production in lowland areas of the country.
These efforts have helped farmers grow more wheat in new areas.
Wheat production has also been boosted by support from the African Development Bank, with an investment of $1.2 billion in agriculture and other sectors.
Experts say increasing local production of wheat can help reduce Africa’s wheat imports.
Ethiopia’s agriculture reforms aim to improve productivity and ensure food security.
