Fertiliser Procurement on a Sure Footing as Ministry Secures Term Contracts


Fertiliser Procurement on a Sure Footing as Ministry Secures Term Contracts

In a bid to address the fertiliser supply crunch for the upcoming season, the Ministry of Agriculture is poised for a series of overhauls in the form of long-term procurement modalities and digital distribution controls. Minister Girma Amentie (PhD) indicated that replacing annual bids for fertiliser with advance procurements for up to three years term contracts in partnership with the Ministry of Finance is pending for next year. "We have learned a lot from other institutions' endeavours towards digitisation," said Girma foreshadowing the change. Girma stated the proposed reforms at a press briefing held at the Ministry's headquarters near Gurd Shola, last week. The Minister said that only five per cent of the fertiliser will be put in the warehouses of the Agriculture Business Corporation while the rest is directly delivered from the ports to the regional states depending on their agroecology. Meanwhile, legal actions are underway against parallel markets disrupting the distribution, he said. According to Girma, out of the 20 million quintals of fertiliser allocated for this year's harvest season 13.6 million quintals have been procured with one billion dollars. He said that while 11.9 million quintals have arrived at Djibouti ports, 89.7pc were transported to the country. During the Meher season, out of the 17.4 million hectares of arable land, 10 million hectares have been covered with seeds so far, according to the Minister.

[ssba-buttons]

Radar

Nib international Bank Faces Heavy Hit from Forex Revaluation, Pays 348 Million Br in Penalties

Nib International Bank S.C. (NIB) has reported a significant loss of 2.9 billion Br, primarily due to extraordinary foreign exchange revaluation losses, this past Saturday, during its annual shareholders meeting at the Millennium Hall on Africa avenue, Airport Road. The bank faced substantial penalties amounting to 348.4 million Br. These penalties included a 251 million Br fine for liquidity shortages and a 97.4 million Br charge for violations related to Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) payme...


Radar

Railway Network Upgrade Positioned as Engine of Economic Transformation

The National Railway Business Summit took place at Skylight Hotel on October 21, 2025, signalling a historic step in modernising its railway network as a foundation for national development and regional connectivity. Government officials, industry leaders, investors, and experts from around the world convened to discuss infrastructure expansion, financing models, and technology adoption. Asma Redi, chief portfolio director at Ethiopian Investment Holdings, noted that the Ethiopian Railways Co...


Radar

Gold Prices Ease After Recent Surge

The price of gold, which surged sharply in recent weeks, has started to decline in the current selling market. Over the past 15 days, 21-carat gold has traded between 24,000 and 25,000 Br per gram for imported products and around 21,000 Br for local gold. Imported 18-carat gold sold for 21,000 Br, while local 18-carat pieces were priced at 19,000 Br. Traders note that the recent increase was twice as high as typical fluctuations, attributing the spike to export patterns from Arab countries. ...