Ethiopia's "Bounty of the Basket" (Ye Lemat Tirufat) initiative is being hailed as a major success, with the Ministry of Agriculture announcing a dramatic increase in the nation's fish production. This strategic program, designed to boost agricultural output across various sectors, has demonstrably revitalized the country's fisheries.
Dr. Fasil Dawit, Head of the Fisheries Development Desk at the Ministry, underscored the program's keen focus on fish production. He emphasized that the Ministry's dedicated efforts under the "Bounty of the Basket" initiative have been pivotal in achieving this remarkable growth.
Prior to the program's launch, activity within Ethiopia's fisheries sector was notably limited. However, Dr. Fasil revealed a significant turnaround, with national fish production showing substantial improvement since 2022.
The figures speak for themselves:
- In 2022, fish production stood at 73.14 thousand tons.
- This surged to 101.36 thousand tons in 2023.
- And further climbed to an impressive 131 thousand tons in 2024.
A new national fish production improvement program has been drafted and is now being actively implemented. Dr. Fasil affirmed that the Ministry is committed to strengthening its efforts to ensure the continued success of this ambitious plan.
To bolster future production, initiatives are underway to increase the output of fish fingerlings, proactively addressing any potential shortages. Furthermore, the Ministry is establishing fish production cluster stations to provide vital technological and other support directly to fish producers, empowering them to maximize their yields, FBC learned.