An Overview of Ethiopia's Barley Productivity, Import Quantity and Consumption

Abstract

Barley, grown on 975 hectares in the Ethiopian highlands, is a major cereal crop that serves as both a food source and an important source of income for smallholders in Ethiopia. Due to the significance of this crop, it is crucial to analyze the production volumes, productivity, and consumption trends. The study utilized secondary data from the USDA, and the findings reveal an overall 0.5 MT/ha increase in barley productivity between 2014 and 2023. Additionally, there was a 1.04% decrease in the area of land used for barley production during the same period. Household consumption of barley has risen from 1975 Metric Tons (MT) in 2014 to 2475 Metric Tons (MT) in 2023. Furthermore, the level of imports has increased from 31 Metric Tons (MT) in 2014 to 50 Metric Tons (MT) in 2023. Therefore, the Ethiopian government is taking significant measures to increase barley production in order to meet the demand and supply gap. It is recommended that these initiatives continue, along with support in developing improved agricultural technologies and recommendations, such as crop variety, agronomic practices, crop protection measures, encouraging farmer training centers, modernizing the village road and other infrastructure and also increasing the provision of technical advice and practices.