According to the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), Ethiopia has become self-sufficient in malting barley, which it has been importing for years to suit the demands of the brewing industry.
According to reports, the nation has been spending millions of dollars importing 70% of the cereals needed by its breweries. The government’s initiatives have allowed Ethiopia to become self-sufficient with sufficient domestic products, so much so that the country has ceased importing barley, according to Fitsum Ketema, Chief of Staff and Transformation Head of IPDC.
He claims that by giving more than 60,000 smallholder farmers direct access to the market, a malting barley-producing enterprise located in Bole Lemmi Industry Park has aided in the increase of barley production. Fitsum and the agro-processing businesses of Debre Berhan and Jimma are also benefiting from this kind of market connection.
In order to facilitate commerce in more agricultural products between farmers and consumers, he continued, the nation is likewise attempting to integrate its markets. He pointed out that several industrial parks have been trying to increase the number and range of their products in order to mitigate the impact of Ethiopia’s withdrawal from AGOA advantages.
Fitsum said that this increase covers production in the areas of agro-processing, textiles, medicines, vehicle assembly, and other industries. According to him, the nation is also aiming to build more industry parks and draw in foreign direct investment in order to boost foreign currency profits and generate more jobs. The firm claims that over 100,000 jobs and millions of dollars are being created by Ethiopia’s 13 industry parks.
The year 2018 saw the start of initiatives by the government, international organizations, and the beer business to expand Ethiopia’s barley sector, following statistics that revealed the nation was importing an astounding 70% of the grains required for its burgeoning brewing industry.
Ethiopia is Africa’s fifth-largest producer of barley, therefore experts thought there was a chance to significantly reduce imports.