Fed Allocates $60m to Agrochemical Procurements

Aug 13 , 2022


[ssba-buttons]

Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture have set aside 60 million dollars to be used for the procurement of agrochemicals, including fertilisers, for this year's harvest season.  The sum is a fraction of what the federal government spent buying fertiliser from international suppliers last year. The state-owned Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses Corporation paid 650 dollars a tonne for 780,000tn of fertiliser supplied by the Morocco-based OCP Group. FertiGlobe, an Abu Dhabi-based firm, supplied half a million tonnes for close to 1,000 dollars each.  Fertiliser prices in the global market have been soaring since 2020, but Russia's war in Ukraine pushed them to new highs. Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia faced retail prices of up to 4,900 Br a quintal last year, nearly triple what they paid the year before. Over eight million smallholder farmers are affected by soaring fertiliser costs. Ministry officials say 96pc of the fertiliser procured last financial year has been distributed. Farmers in the Tigray Regional State are not among the recipients. The Ministry will soon begin collecting needs assessment from regional administrations to launch the next round of procurement procedures.


Radar

Parliament Enacts Solid Waste Management, Disposal Proclamation

Parliament has unanimously passed the solid waste management and disposal proclamation, marking a decisive move toward environmental sustainability. It mainly introduces stringent penalties for the use and distribution of single-use plastic bags, focusing on reducing pollution and promoting responsible waste practices. Under the new proclamation, individuals carrying plastic bags face fines ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 Br, while commercial producers, importers, and retailers may be fined betwe...


Radar

NBE Sustains Dollar Supply as Exchange Rate Rises

The US dollar rose to an average of 134.95 Br in the seventh round of the National Bank of Ethiopia's (NBE) foreign exchange auction held on June 5, 2025. This marks a steady increase from 133.17 Br in the previous round and 132.90 Br in the fifth. In the latest bi-weekly auction, the central bank offered 50 million dollars to 12 commercial banks. By comparison, 60 million dollars was supplied to 16 banks at 132.96 Br in early May. In April, two auctions distributed 70 million dollars to 26 b...


Radar

Holland Dairy Unveils Cold Facility, Reinforces Eco Goals Through New Treatment Plant

Holland Dairy has officially inaugurated a cold storage facility and commissioned a wastewater treatment plant, marking a significant step forward in its commitment to growth and sustainability. The event was attended by the Mayor of Bishoftu and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ethiopia, showcasing both national and international support for the initiative. The new cold storage facility, with a capacity of over 400,000 liters of yogurt, is designed to enhance supply chain...