Ethiopia has launched an ambitious Digital Agriculture Roadmap (DAR) for 2025-2032, signaling a major push to transform its agricultural sector through the integration of digital technologies. The strategic framework aims to modernize practices across the entire agricultural value chain, from farm to market, ultimately increasing productivity, enhancing resilience to climate change, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ethiopian agriculture.
The roadmap, developed by the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Gates Foundation, builds upon the foundation laid by the 2022 Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (DAEAS) roadmap. It envisions a more engaging, sustainable, and prosperous agricultural ecosystem for farmers and pastoralists.
Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente highlighted that the DAR focuses on six key solutions across 22 priority areas, including agricultural information, supply chain management, financial services, pricing and marketing services, smart farming, and extension and advisory services. These carefully selected areas are expected to address the pressing challenges faced by Ethiopian farmers.
The roadmap outlines 32 priorities, including improving digital infrastructure, promoting digital literacy among farmers, and developing comprehensive farmer profiles. The plan is structured in two phases, with the first phase (2025-2029) focusing on building the foundational digital infrastructure and addressing key challenges in agriculture, and the second phase (2030-2032) aiming to diversify and scale the digital ecosystem across the sector.
ATI Director-General Mandefro Nigussie stressed that access to accurate and up-to-date information is essential to solving problems in all aspects of the agricultural value chain, from production to market access. He believes that digital tools can bridge the information gap that has long hampered growth in the sector.
With coordinated support from the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute and the Gates Foundation, this initiative reflects a strong commitment to integrating technology into Ethiopian agriculture to improve productivity and livelihoods. The vision of the DAR is to create a digitally advanced agricultural sector where farmers and pastoralists have access to real-time data, modern tools, and improved market linkages to drive productivity, sustainability, and food security.
