Ethiopia becomes Africa’s largest wheat producer with record 33 million tonnes harvest

Ethiopia has become Africa’s largest wheat producer after recording a historic harvest exceeding 330 million quintals – equivalent to around 33 million tonnes – according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, reports Fana Media Corporation, a partner of TV BRICS.

Speaking during a visit to large-scale wheat farms in the Oromia Region, Abiy said the country had dramatically expanded cultivation over recent years, turning Ethiopia from a wheat-importing nation into the continent’s leading producer.

According to the Prime Minister, more than 8 million hectares of land were cultivated during the current fiscal year across both the main rainy season and the summer farming cycle. Wheat output increased by approximately 50 million quintals compared with last year, while cultivated land expanded by nearly one million hectares.

Officials say the rapid growth has been driven by expanded irrigation, year-round farming and efforts to ensure that arable land is fully utilised. Summer wheat cultivation, once uncommon in Ethiopia, has become a key pillar of the country’s agricultural strategy since the COVID-19 period.

Abiy noted that the expansion of wheat production is already reshaping rural economies and improving livelihoods in areas previously dependent on social assistance programmes. Many districts that once relied heavily on state support are now becoming more self-sufficient through agricultural production.

Beyond crop farming, rural communities are also increasing dairy and poultry production, with farms supplying hundreds of thousands of litres of milk daily to urban centres.

The Prime Minister described agriculture as one of the main engines of Ethiopia’s economic growth alongside industry, technology, mining and tourism. He added that the country now aims to increase wheat production further to 500 million quintals in the coming years through wider use of technology and improved agricultural management.