Addis Ababa, December 26, 2025 — Ethiopia’s summer irrigation wheat program is playing a crucial role in the nation’s efforts to achieve food sovereignty. The initiative has seen significant growth, with millions of hectares under cultivation and production targets consistently increasing, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Esayas Lema, the Crop Development Lead Executive Officer at the ministry, highlighted that irrigation-based wheat farming has exceeded initial expectations in terms of both land coverage and output. For the current 2025/2026 production year, approximately 2.7 million hectares have already been planted with wheat using irrigation techniques.
The program initially started as a pilot project in the 2011 Ethiopian calendar year, covering just 3,500 hectares. Since then, it has evolved into a nationwide initiative targeting 4.2 million hectares. Esayas noted that this expansion has led to a substantial increase in total wheat production, enabling Ethiopia to meet domestic demand and even enter the export market.
The summer irrigation season aims to produce 175 million quintals of wheat, reinforcing Ethiopia’s position as a key wheat producer in the region. So far, 2.7 million hectares have been sown with wheat seeds, and harvesting has already been completed on 3.1 million hectares, according to Esayas.
He emphasized that irrigation-based farming is becoming a common practice among farmers across the country, contributing significantly to national food sovereignty. Infrastructure development, fertilizer supply, and improved seed varieties are being adequately distributed to sustain the program’s success.
The impact of the summer irrigation wheat farming is evident on the ground. Farmers in the North Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region report notable gains in productivity through mechanized irrigation farming.
Sisay Desta, a local farmer, shared how government support has transformed his production capacity. “The assistance we receive has transformed our output and reduced labor challenges,” he said.
Getu Desalegn, another farmer, highlighted the importance of technical guidance. “The professional support from agricultural development experts, especially in mechanization and proper distribution methods, is making our crop production and harvesting more effective,” he noted.
Previously, the Office of the Prime Minister reported a major surge in national wheat production during the 2023/24 harvesting period. According to a social media post, smallholder farmers cultivated 3.6 million hectares and produced 123 million quintals, while 2.9 million hectares of irrigated land yielded 107.7 million quintals.
Overall wheat production reached 230 million quintals during that period. On November 18, 2024, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the start of the nationwide wheat harvest for the current season, emphasizing the need to expedite the process through collaboration. He also mentioned the importance of preparing for the upcoming summer wheat cultivation.
