Export of Agricultural Products Register Growth in Quarter Year

Export of agricultural products has reportedly shown marked growth in the first quarter of the fiscal year as compared to that of last year same period.

Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Eyasu Abraha disclosed this to the Agriculture Affairs Standing Committee of the House of People’s Representatives today.

While presenting the first quarter performance of the Ethiopian fiscal year, he said the country has succeeded in gaining more than 215 million USD from export of coffee in the quarter, registering 19.07 percent increase to that of same period last year.

Some 296 million USD was earned from non-stalk cereal food crops, about USD 54 million from oilseeds, particularly sesame due to immediate supply of the product to markets, and close to 40 million USD from pulse food crops, Eyasu added.

About 6 million USD has been obtained from export of spices and tea, he said, noting that all the produces exported above registered growth in the quarter when compared to same period last year.

Pertaining to small-scale irrigation, the Minister claimed to have trained 30 agricultural experts from regions using instructors from Israel that would train farmers.

The Standing Committee appreciated most of the performance which enabled the country to show improvement in earning foreign exchange.

However, the Standing Committee pointed out that agro-industry is an area that deserves focus of the ministry.

source ena