Ethiopia has officially launched its Fertiliser and Soil Health Roadmap, a ten-year strategy aimed at reversing soil degradation and raising agricultural productivity, as part of a broader push to modernise smallholder farming and strengthen food security.

The roadmap was unveiled in the presence of development partners, research institutions, private sector representatives and regional bureaus, drawing together contributors involved in its preparation. The plan covers the period from 2025 to 2035 and is designed to translate continental commitments into a nationally grounded implementation framework.

Speaking at the launch, Eyasu Elias, state minister at the Ministry of Agriculture, said Ethiopia’s agricultural and rural transformation agenda depends on restoring soil health, which he described as a binding constraint to productivity and competitiveness. He said the roadmap provides a strategic response to long-standing fertiliser and soil fertility challenges.

Soil degradation remains a major drag on Ethiopia’s farm output. National soil mapping under the Ethiopian Soil Information System has shown widespread nutrient depletion, while an estimated seven million hectares of land are affected by soil acidity, reducing crop yields unless treated with measures such as liming. Fertiliser use also remains low, averaging about thirty five kilograms per hectare, well below levels seen in many peer countries.

The roadmap aligns Ethiopia’s policies with the Nairobi Declaration on Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health and the African Union’s ten-year action plan, which aim to restore degraded soils and raise fertiliser use across the continent. By 2035, Ethiopia aims to achieve healthier soils, improved farm incomes and stronger food security outcomes.

Eyasu said the government’s ambition is to support structural economic transformation by boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening agro-industrial linkages and expanding rural employment. He thanked development partners for their financial, technical and logistical support in preparing and launching the roadmap.

Moses Vilakati, African Union commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable development, acknowledged Ethiopia’s agricultural progress and said the Commission would support implementation of the roadmap.