Ethiopia’s Experience of Wheat Production Exemplary to African Countries: CIMMYT

By Sarah McLaughlin

Ethiopia is the second largest wheat grower in Africa and has high levels of demand for the crop. Shortages of grains, cereals and agricultural inputs such as fertilizer caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict are leading the Ethiopian government to focus heavily on increasing the country’s productivity to rely less on imports.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently launched national exports of wheat/ “We have made Ethiopia’s wheat export dream a reality,” he said.

Yahaya highlighted the role of CIMMYT in improving Ethiopia’s wheat production; around 70 percent of varieties grown in the country come from the organization’s germplasm.

Producers are facing several challenges as they continue to bring in the 2026 harvest. Heavy rains and winds have resulted in crop disease and damage. Along with those problems comes the challenge of lodged corn.