A New Chapter in Ethiopian Tea Development: From 6,400 to 30,000 Hectares

Jimma, Oromia Region

A Strategic Field Survey in Jimma Zone

The second day of the tea development field survey, launched in Jimma Zone of Oromia Region and led by His Excellency Dr. Meles Mekonnen and His Excellency Dr. Adugna Debela, with the participation of senior government officials, continued with great activity. This tea development movement, launched by His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed as a special initiative, is currently becoming a great potential to take the country's agricultural productivity to new heights.

According to the Director General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, His Excellency Dr. Adugna Debela, who was present on the day, this project is not only accompanied by aspirations but also by tangible results and is making its mark on the country's economic structure.

From 13,000 to 30,000 Hectares

Regarding the scope of the development, Dr. Adugna Debela explained that currently more than 13 thousand hectares of land are covered with tea plantations, but emphasized that this is not the final goal. According to the Director General, intensive efforts are being made to increase the cultivated area to 30 thousand hectares in the near future.

In order to achieve this ambitious goal, special attention is being paid to suitable lands in the Oromia and Southwestern regions of Ethiopia. He emphasized that strategic coordination with regional governments will continue to be a cornerstone of the expansion effort.

Oromia Region's Commitment

The Head of the Oromia Regional State Agriculture Bureau, Ato Getu Gemechu, emphasized that tea cultivation is a sector that has been given "special attention" in the regional agricultural strategy. Ato Getu stated that the region is committed to expanding its tea cultivation by utilizing its natural resources and human capital, and indicated that support and monitoring provided at the office level will continue to be strengthened.

He explained that this development will not only ensure the benefit of local farmers, but will also play a significant role in increasing the variety of products the region offers to domestic and foreign markets.

Toward Industrial-Scale Tea Production

Overall, this visit program held in Jimma shows that the Ethiopian tea sector is moving away from traditional practices and towards organized and extensive industrial development. The future plans will not only encourage investors and farmers involved in the sector, but will also pave the way for the country to increase its competitiveness in tea production at the international level.

The coordinated working spirit seen between the federal and regional leaders has been taken as a major guarantee for the success of the project.