In an audacious move to rejuvenate the agricultural sector, federal authorities are contemplating allowing the private sector to import fertiliser,(possibly through franco valuta) challenging the state's monopoly over a sector worth billions of dollars.

The potential transition comes as part of a broader plan, as the country grapples with securing foreign currency needed to pay for imports. In the five months beginning July last year, the federal government spent 226.3 million dollars, a whopping 134pc larger than the same period the previous year.

A multi-agency study examining the feasibility of this venture is underway. The consortium is formed of experts from diverse fields, including agriculture, finance, and logistics. Among the institutions involved are the ministries of Agriculture and Finance, the Ethiopian Agricultural Corporation, and the Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics Service. Experts see the effort as a proactive attempt to address the lingering scarcity in the market, which has been troubling the country's farmers.

"The ultimate goal is to benefit the farmer," said Melese Bedane (PhD), head of the chemical input supply desk at the Ministry of Agriculture.

While the ongoing study is broad in scope, it won't involve all 24 actors in the supply chain from import to retail, he disclosed to Fortune. Melese carefully noted that while the study is exploratory, it does not necessarily imply full privatisation of the sector. Rather, it hints at introducing "alternative options" in the forthcoming year.

The shifting agricultural landscape seems to align with Finance Minister Ahmed Shide's austere budget plans for the coming fiscal year, focusing chiefly on debt management. The Minister was emphatic about the private sector becoming the driving force of the economy, urging that the government's role should focus on creating an enabling environment while limiting its role in regulation.

The history of Ethiopia's fertiliser business traces back to half a century ago, when Ethiopia Amalgamated Ltd, significantly owned by Gebreyes Begna, was the sole player in the market. This changed during the Dergue regime, as the state-owned Agricultural Input Supply Corporation (AISCO) controlled the fertiliser market with regulated and subsidised pricing. The fertiliser was distributed primarily to state farms and "high-potential areas," while smallholder farmers often experienced scarcity.

The landscape evolved yet again in post-1991 under a revised economic policy implemented by the EPDRF government, which introduced a multichannel distribution system. Party-affiliated endowment companies such as Guna, Ambasel, Wondo and Dinsho gained prominence, and public enterprises' share dwindled. This shift lasted until 2008, when the federal government decided to limit imports to farmers' cooperatives, aiming to capitalise on bulk purchases and save foreign currency.

Under the management of Kifle Woldermariam, the state-owned Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation procured 12.8 million quintals of fertiliser this year, with 8.5 million quintals delivered by June. Amhara Regional State Agriculture Bureau, in particular, received 5.2 million quintals, with three million quintals delivered to the unions so far, according to data from the Bureau. It is a figure in sharp contrast with the data available for the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Bureau's Deputy Head, Ajebe Sensahew, observed a regional supply shortage despite this. Ajebe advocates for strong regulations and believes opening the sector to private businesses could provide relief.