U.S. supports Ethiopia’s agriculture policy, investment framework

Addis Ababa, December 10, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - Ambassador Patricia Haslach, the U.S. Deputy Coordinator for Diplomacy under the U.S. Government’s new Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative: Feed the Future, pledged further U.S. support for agriculture development in Ethiopia, the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia said.

According to a statement the embassy sent to ENA on Friday, the ambassador pledged the support at the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development (CAADP) High Level Business Meeting held December 6-7.

The statement said the ambassador praised the technical quality and content of Ethiopia’s CAADP Policy and Investment Framework and pointed to a future of enhanced U.S. cooperation on agriculture development with the Government of Ethiopia.

“Ethiopia has made significant progress as evidenced by the support that your country investment plan has generated and by the positive technical review. Now we have to translate this great progress on “process” to measurable results for the lives of millions of Ethiopian farmers and pastoralists,” the statement quoted Ambassador Haslach as saying.

It said U.S. support for agricultural growth oriented activities in Ethiopia’s agriculture sector reached 40 million USD in 2010, representing a doubling of assistance as compared to previous years.

During 2011, the U.S. intends to sign a new five year bilateral assistance agreement with Ethiopia that will provide significant new resources.

These resources will be particularly focused on the new Ethiopian government-led multi-donor supported Agriculture Growth Program (AGO), targeting some of the country’s most productive woredas.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be the lead donor for AGP’s Markets and Agribusiness Component, working with government, the private sector, and farmers to expand agricultural value chains.

While resources for growth oriented activities are increasing, the U.S. government will remain the largest donor to Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program, which provides food and cash transfers in exchange for labour in public works activities for chronically food insecure households, the statement said.

After noting that the Growth and Transformation Plan recognizes the need for a significantly increased role for the private sector in agriculture, Ambassador Haslach also addressed the pivotal role women will play in achieving Ethiopia’s agricultural development ambitions.

“By investing more in Ethiopia’s women, we can leverage their predominant role and ambitions in agriculture, food security, and nutrition.” he said.

Feed the Future is one of President Obama’s priority Presidential Development Initiatives, and carries forward the President’s pledge made last summer at the G-8 meeting for the U.S. to provide 3.5 billion worldwide towards global food security.

Ethiopia is one of approximately 20 countries prioritized by the USG for support, the statement said.

ENA