More than 62pc of Sidama’s 153,000ha farmland has become too acidic for optimal production, with roughly 95,000ha already dragging down yields. Regional officials say rehabilitation efforts are constrained by the rising cost of lime, after spending 60 million Br last year to stabilise soils. The update came during an OCP Ethiopia field demonstration in Hula District showcasing OC-Messa fertiliser on, a phosphate blend tailored for teff and barley grown in degraded soils. OCP officials argue the customised fertiliser provides a more efficient alternative in areas where acidity limits nutrient uptake. Sidama's Agriculture Head Memmiru Mokehu warned that soil acidity is accelerating nationwide and called for coordinated intervention. OCP Ethiopia operates blending plants across Amhara, Oromia, Sidama and Central Ethiopia, including its flagship facility in Bahir Dar.

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