The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that Ethiopia’s tractor plowing rate has risen from 5.7% in 2020 to 25%, marking a development in agricultural mechanization.
Eshetu Hunde, Executive Director of the Agricultural Mechanization Division, attributed the progress to government reforms and increased access to agricultural technologies. He emphasized the importance of expanding mechanization through investors and organized youth, given the high cost of equipment such as combine harvesters, which can reach Birr 40 million.
Mechanization has proven to boost productivity and reduce pre- and post-harvest losses. In the 2024 crop season, many farmers benefited from advanced technologies, and ongoing efforts aim to modernize farming practices nationwide. The Ministry’s 10-year strategic plan targets increasing the number of tractors from 20,000 to 65,000 and combining harvesters from 2,700 to 15,000.
Tax exemptions for agricultural machinery, introduced in 2019, have played a crucial role in this progress. Eshetu noted that this policy increased the availability of machinery and encouraged private investors to provide rental services, allowing more farmers to access the technology.
Ethiopia’s first Agricultural Mechanization Excellence Center, built with support from South Korea, is now operational and serves as a hub for training and equipment maintenance.
Tractor cultivation spans five million hectares, but the Ministry plans to expand this to 11 million hectares over the next decade. Eshetu also highlighted efforts to make machinery accessible through lease financing and rental services.
Source: Addis Zemen
