The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Agricultural Transformation Institute are to begin field studies in the Afar and Somali regional states, hoping to complete a national soil map that has been in the making for a decade. Experts have gathered data about soil fertility levels across the country, employing remote sensing satellite technology.

The duo has gathered and analysed 100,000 soil samples since 2015. There are 28 soil groups, with 18 classified as dominant, for they can be found in more than one regional state.

“Filed verification is essential to ascertain the accuracy of the results from samples collected earlier," said Girma Kassa, geospatial and agrometeorology expert at the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute (EARI).

The EARI is one of the entities participating in the project.

The low number of samples that have been taken in some areas is another reason for conducting field verification, according to Abebe Yerdaw, a geographic information systems expert at the Ministry. The samples underwent validation three years ago by 45 experts from universities and research centres. Field samples were extracted after digging down an average of two metres. The fieldwork will begin in the coming week, Abebe disclosed.

“It'll be finalised within a month,” he said.

This is not the first attempt at a national soil map. One had been prepared in 1970 with the Food & Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) support but has since been discounted. According to Abebe, it was designed with a small number of soil samples and had an accuracy of 28pc.

The agricultural sector has been characterised by low productivity, in no small part due to low soil fertility, an absence of balanced fertilisation and proper soil management. Agriculture accounts for 35pc of the GDP; it is a source of livelihood for nearly 80pc of the population.