• Ethiopia launched a national program to boost sorghum production and strengthen its value chain.

• Authorities aim to improve seeds, adopt modern technologies, and reduce import dependence.

• Production has fallen 27% since 2020 due to drought, pests, and conflict.

Ethiopia has launched a national program to increase domestic sorghum production and revitalize the sector. The Ministry of Agriculture introduced the initiative as part of efforts to strengthen food security and support economic growth.

Authorities held a validation workshop on Tuesday, March 24, in Addis Ababa. The event brought together farmers, researchers, and development partners to refine the program’s implementation strategy, according to the Ethiopian News Agency. 

Addisu Arega, Minister of Agriculture, said the plan will focus on strengthening the sorghum value chain through improved seeds and the adoption of modern technologies.

“By investing in the development of innovative seeds and new technologies, this plan aims to ensure food security and economic growth through import substitution, particularly by targeting the development of beverage and poultry industries to stimulate rural wealth,” he said.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the program’s timeline or total investment cost.

A Sector in Decline

The initiative comes as Ethiopia’s sorghum sector faces declining output. Production peaked at 5.63 million tonnes in 2020 but has since fallen significantly. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that Ethiopia produced 4.1 million tonnes of sorghum in 2024, marking a 27% decline over five years.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that production will stagnate at around 4 million tonnes in 2025 and 2026. The USDA attributes the decline to limited access to improved seed varieties, recurring drought, pest infestations, and ongoing conflicts in key producing regions such as Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara. These factors have reduced harvested areas and yields.

“Research shows that infestation by the Striga weed represents one of the main challenges limiting sorghum production in Ethiopia, often causing yield losses exceeding 30%,” the USDA added.

Trends in sorghum production in Ethiopia since 2001

Sorghum remains a critical crop for food security, particularly in drought-prone regions where it performs better than other cereals. According to CIRAD, sorghum can grow in arid areas with annual water requirements of about 250 millimeters, which is three times less than maize.

Domestic demand for sorghum is rising across food and feed markets. In Ethiopia, consumers mainly use sorghum to produce injera, porridge, and nifro (boiled grains). Producers also use the crop to make traditional alcoholic beverages such as tella and areke.

Beyond food consumption, sorghum is gaining importance in animal feed and small-scale industrial processing, including flour, snacks, and baby food production.

“Its use in animal feed is also growing, with strong potential to meet rising demand for poultry feed in the country,” the USDA said in its report.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum