Ministers Council Nods to Contract Farming Bill

Aug 20 , 2022


[ssba-buttons]

The Council of Ministers has approved a bill that looks to formalise contract farming models. Federal officials hope to encourage expanding a demand-driven farming system by rolling out a legal framework that allows agro-processing industries to source raw materials from millions of small-scale farmers. In the making for the past five years, the bill was initially under the Agricultural Transformation Institute (formerly an Agency) before the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) took over the mandate three years ago. It intends to legalise contract farming models. Contract farming has been limited to a few agricultural commodities, including oilseeds, sugarcane, and barley. The bill will be tabled to lawmakers when Parliament reconvenes next month.


Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...