JICA reaffirms continued cooperation with Ethiopia in agriculture sector

Addis Ababa, March 3, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente, held discussions with Yamaguchi Hiroyuki, Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), on enhancing agricultural cooperation between the two nations.

During the meeting, Minister Girma highlighted Ethiopia’s expanding rice production as part of its broader strategy to achieve food self-sufficiency. He urged JICA to further strengthen its support by sharing its expertise in rice cultivation.

The discussions covered JICA’s ongoing collaboration with Ethiopia in key agricultural areas, including horticulture, rice production, and food systems, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Minister Girma also emphasized the significance of agriculture to Ethiopia’s economy, noting that nearly 70 percent of the country’s exports come from the sector. He stressed that JICA’s continued support is crucial for boosting agricultural trade and productivity.

JICA Vice President Yamaguchi Hiroyuki reaffirmed the agency’s commitment, stating that JICA is actively supporting Ethiopia’s horticulture sector and other agricultural initiatives through the Ethio-SHEP project.

He assured that JICA will continue working with Ethiopia to enhance production, productivity, and trade in the sector.