The Ministry of Agriculture announced earnings of USD 2.2 million from 800 tons of cotton produced in the past nine months. While this demonstrates potential, researchers warn that Ethiopia utilizes only a fraction of its suitable land for cotton cultivation. Despite planting 81,000 hectares out of a planned 105,000, Ethiopia achieved 80% of its cotton production target, yielding 1.5 million quintals. Ethiopia boasts roughly 3 million hectares ideal for cotton cultivation, significantly exceeding current production. To address this gap, a 15-year national cotton development strategy is underway.

Source: Ethiopian News May 22, 2024 14:49 UTC