The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) says agricultural commercialisation, youth employment, and digital transformation will anchor its next phase of work. Briefing stakeholders this week, the institute reported that its Agricultural Commercialisation Cluster (ACC) programme now covers 311 woredas and 11 priority commodities, reaching 4.4 million farmers, with further expansion planned. The programme is supported by partners including DANIDA, the EU, AFD, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, and Norway. ATI also said its Farmer Production Cluster initiative has enrolled 2.5 million farmers, while ACC I has been implemented across seven regions, with ACC II set to expand to Benishangul-Gumuz, Somali, and additional areas. ACC II will also broaden coverage to 18 priority commodities, including livestock. Addressing unemployment, ATI announced a five-year youth and women employment initiative, Agriculture-focused Dignified Employment for Youth in Ethiopia (ADEY), backed by 74 million dollars from the Mastercard Foundation. The programme aims to create over 600,000 jobs and reach nearly 800,000 young people through market-oriented agricultural interventions. ATI also highlighted progress on digital agriculture, noting that its advisory platforms now serve 6.8 million users through mobile tools, digital vouchers, and AI-supported services that link farmers to inputs, finance, and markets.
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