Southwestern Ethiopia is quickly becoming a key player in the world’s fruit production, thanks to its rich soil, ample rainfall, and diverse environment. The region’s Agriculture Bureau says these conditions allow farmers to grow crops like avocados and bananas without needing irrigation.
Right now, over 200,000 hectares of land in the area are used to grow fruit, with bananas alone covering more than 80,000 hectares. Farmers benefit from nearly eight months of steady rain each year, which supports healthy growth.
Avocado farming is at the heart of the government’s plan to boost the region’s agricultural success. Currently, avocados are grown on 30,000 hectares, but officials hope to increase this fivefold over the next five years. This expansion could help Ethiopia earn more from exports and strengthen local food supplies.
Efforts to support fruit farmers include distributing improved seedlings, providing better training, and building stronger market connections between producers and buyers. Through the Green Legacy Initiative, 240 million seedlings have been prepared this year alone, with nearly 2 million of those being avocado seedlings.
While much of the avocado crop currently supplies local oil processing plants in Jimma and Yirgalem, the region is aiming higher, preparing to enter the global market. A research team funded by the federal government is working across 25 avocado-growing districts to improve farming techniques and ensure sustainable production.
Today’s farmers harvest around 300 quintals using mostly traditional methods. The Agriculture Bureau believes that adopting more modern approaches could dramatically increase yields and contribute significantly to the country’s economy and food security.
Challenges such as limited access to quality seeds and markets remain, but local authorities are now focused on overcoming these hurdles through modernization and better support systems.
With large areas of farmland still unused and solid institutional support in place, Southwestern Ethiopia has a real chance to become a top exporter of premium avocados and other fruits in the near future.