New agricultural policy tabled for ratification

The agriculture policy that includes new development strategies is tabled for ratification to the Council of Ministers.
The policy replaces the two-decade old way of doing things and is stated as to support some agricultural practices to get legal bandage whilst introducing a new systems and laws for the agricultural sector.
The new policy has ten major pillars that include promoting inclusive development in the agriculture sector with the consideration of the pastoralist and lowland development.
Mandefro Nigussie, CEO of Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), said that the policy will allow designing supportive proclamations and other laws for the agriculture development.
“We put some policy changes on land, technology, extension advisory, input, water, rural finance and many more that needs legal bandage to see agricultural transformation,” he said.
“For instance, agricultural practice through cluster is expanding in the country but it does not have a legal framework. When the new policy is ratified, we will develop laws that will support the system,” Mandefro told Capital.
Similarly, the policy is also considering technologies including biotech to be in place in the coming ten years’ time.
Experts said that there are some agendas that need holistic changes with regards to promoting inclusive agriculture and rural development on the consideration of irrigation, financing, land issue, sustainable development, natural resource development, mechanization and others.
Regarding finance, the new scheme is expected to be promoted to expand access to finance for the agriculture sector.
Currently the agriculture sector is not benefiting from the required finance meanwhile it is the backbone of the country’s economy.
It needs special attention regarding to finance like any other sector, the CEO says “currently most financing are short term, but by its nature agriculture requires long term loan. Due to that it needs a financial institution that has the required modality.”
Similarly the other attention will be mechanization on the agriculture practices by supporting farmers to use modern technologies.
Under the new policy the role of the private sector will also be expanded in all aspects including research, extensions, input supply and dispatch, and even involve on leasing an irrigation scheme.
The policy has considered an integrated approach on social and economic dimension and environmental issue.
The policy has 10 main agendas, 44 sub agendas and 215 implementation instruments.