Agricultural Mechanisation for Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia (AMTP III)

Agriculture plays a major role in Ethiopian society. It is the source of income for around 71 percent of the population and accounts for 36 percent of total economic output. Nevertheless, Ethiopia has to import a considerable amount of food and spent about US-Dollar 1.8 billion on this in 2015, primarily for palm oil, sugar, sweeteners and wheat. At the same time, favourable climatic conditions offer great production potential that is not fully used. In some areas of the country, considerable increases in production are possible, which could in turn be used to supply other parts of the country or even allow Ethiopia to become a net food exporter. The Ethiopian Government wants to adopt agricultural mechanisation solutions as a way of achieving sustainable increases in smallholder productivity, therefore contributing to both higher incomes and the development of rural regions. However, the lack of innovation in agricultural mechanisation and technology prevents smallholders from increasing their productivity and income. The use of machinery has been restricted largely to primary soil cultivation and to harvesting grain with combines. In many cases, the technology used is not only unsuitable for the agricultural conditions, but is also outdated and of poor quality. Furthermore, the number of technical training courses available in the area of agricultural technology is limited. Knowledge about specific site-adapted mechanised cultivation methods, the proper use of agricultural machinery and the efficient use of inputs is insufficient in large parts of the rural population. The efficiency and quality of mechanisation services are therefore also low. The project Agricultural Mechanisation for Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia (AMTP III) aims to improve the framework conditions for the spread of agricultural mechanisation in Ethiopia. This should be achieved through agricultural policy advise and capacity development for the use of machinery in agriculture. The following key outputs are planned: (1) The planning basis for the implementation of the National Strategy for Agricultural Mechanisation is improved. (2) The offer of governmental and non-governmental agricultural training institutions is strengthened with regard to mechanisation. (3) The ability of private and cooperative service providers to deliver mechanisation services is increased. (4) Stakeholders are better informed about the opportunities offered by agricultural mechanisation. (5) An innovation fund to promote innovation has started its work. This project is part of the overarching programme Promoting Agricultural Productivity in Ethiopia and contribute to its objective to improve the income and employment situation of the rural population in Ethiopia through agricultural productivity increases and the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which provide services and inputs for primary agricultural production or market or process agricultural products. This project has a duration of three years (09/2021 until 08/2024). The geographical focus is on the regional states of Amhara and Oromia as well as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPRS).