Ethiopia's Digital Agriculture Roadmap Launched

Addis Ababa, February 4, 2025 (ENA) -- Ethiopia has launched the Digital Agriculture Roadmap (DAR) 2025-2032 today with a view to revolutionizing the sector.

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Gates Foundation launched the DAR.

The initiative was launched in the presence of high-level government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and other key stakeholders, marking this milestone in Ethiopia's agricultural transformation.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente said that the roadmap is a landmark achievement in Ethiopia's agricultural sector.

 

The minister further stated that the DAR is instrumental in modernizing agricultural data, providing market information and financial accessibility for farmers and pastoralists.

The roadmap is also developed to serve as a holistic framework to advance Ethiopia's agricultural transformation by empowering farmers and pastoralists, he noted.

Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Molla said for his part that as Ethiopia is striving for sustainable and inclusive growth, realization of the nation's agricultural transformation is crucial.

 

Launching the DAR is a testament of Ethiopia's broader vision of digital transformation, he pointed out.

The digital agriculture roadmap is a strategic framework designed to revolutionize Ethiopia's agriculture sector by integrating digital technologies across the entire agricultural value chain. 

According to ATI, the initiative builds on the success of the  2022 Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (DAEAS) Roadmap and aims to create an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous ecosystem for farmers and pastoralists.

It was developed through extensive collaboration with government agencies, experts and donor organizations on the basis of phased approach for Ethiopia's digital agricultural transformation.

Accordingly, the roadmap is structured into two phases. Phase one runs from 2025-2029, focusing on building foundational digital infrastructure and addressing key challenges in agriculture. And, phase two of the roadmap runs from 2030-2032, which aims to diversify and scale the digital ecosystem across the sector, it was indicated.  

 

The vision of DAR is to create a digitally advanced agricultural sector where farmers and pastoralists have access to real-time data, modern tools, improved market linkages, as well as drive productivity, sustainability and food security.

The government is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the DAR, which will lay the foundation for a digitally enabled agricultural economy, improve the livelihoods of farmers and position Ethiopia as a leader in digital agricultural innovation in Africa, ATI affirmed.