The status, challenges, and prospects of agricultural production and productivity in Ethiopia: A review

Abstract

Ethiopia is heavily dependent on its agricultural sector, which has suffered from recurrent droughts. Rapid population growth, change of arable land to urban expansion, climate change, unemployment, waterlogging in wetland areas, salinity in arid and semi-arid, acidity in high rainfall areas, and depletion of natural resources are causing food shortages. Productivity performance in the agriculture sector is critical to improvement in overall economic well-being. Therefore, this article focused to reviewing the country’s current production and productivity of agricultural challenges and opportunities. In addition to that, the status of the agricultural production of the country were reviewed. The seminar mainly concentrated on land degradation and deforestation, land fragmentation, the shortage of farmland, climate change, unevenly distributed construction and urbanization, lack of integration among stakeholders, political instabilities, and its prospects. Ethiopia has great opportunities, such as commercial farming investments in cereals, cotton, fruit, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The country has also many opportunities in the areas of livestock production. However, Ethiopia’s current fruit, vegetable, and livestock production for export are very limited.