Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing in collaboration with UN in China and the HOA Group organized a dialogue on Agricultural Cooperation and Food security in Horn of Africa.
H.E Ambassador Teshome Toga on his opening remark said that agricultural development and food security are prirority of priorities to the HOA, to overcome the current devastating drought that left millions in humanitarian crisis in our part of the world.
Indicating that the wider HOA region, comprising 8 countries, covering 16. 6 % of the continental land area, of which the vast part is suitable for agriculture with a combined GDP of 292 billion USD, Ambassador said, its strategic location coupled with abundant human and natural resources provide ample opportunity for investment and doing business in the region.
The Ambassador noted that, like many African countries, Ethiopia’s economy is mainly dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 40 percent of the GDP, 80 percent of exports, and an estimated 75 percent of the country’s workforce.
Under Ethiopia’s “Home-grown Economic Reform Programs”, prioritising agriculture and giving the focus and attention it deserves, will enable Ethiopia to move towards self-sufficiency, and ultimately food security in the coming two to three years, He added.
Furthermore, Ambassador Teshome also stated that, summer wheat production and cluster farming which was launched two years ago by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, is very encouraging to overcome the difficulties of smallholder fragmented farming and hoping that in the next two years, Ethiopia would be in a position to export wheat.
Finally, Ambassador Teshome Toga urged Chinese companies to invest on fertilizer production and agro-processing in the region and to conduct joint research and work with agricultural institutions to provide scientific solutions to the challenges facing.
