In a move to strengthen control over its agricultural exports and imports, the Ethiopian government has announced the completion of preliminary processes to build a new digital control center called the e-Phyto system.

The $700,000 project, supported by the European Union and TradeMark Africa, will enable the transformation from manual to digital regulation of agricultural products. The system will allow the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA), the regulatory body for agricultural product quality, to digitally track all imported and exported agricultural goods.

“The e-Phyto system, which has been tendered internationally for construction by the EU, is scheduled to be completed within the next five months,” said Diriba Kuma, Director General of the EAA.

The new digital system is being developed in consultation with the Customs Commission, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology. It is intended to address past issues with the quality of Ethiopia’s agricultural exports, which were previously measured through non-modern practices.

To further support product quality and competitiveness, Ethiopia recently held a National Product Quality Assessment Conference. The conference aimed to create an enabling environment to maintain the quality of Ethiopia’s horticulture exports.

Additionally, a successful National Phytosanitary Conference was held, jointly developed by the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association and the EAA. The conference focused on enhancing EU plant health regulations, the impacts on East African countries, and the roles of the public and private sectors in efficient export trade.

Officials say the new e-Phyto digital control system, combined with the quality assurance efforts, will pave the way for a more secure and sustainable future for Ethiopia’s agricultural export industry.