Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Debate

EZEMA plans to consolidate fragmented land into large-scale mechanized farms and expand agro-industrialization, arguing that the current 0.5-hectare average plot size cannot lift farmers out of poverty.

• Current fragmented farming (average 0.5 hectares) is not leading to poverty reduction.

  [22:45]

• Plans to consolidate land to create large-scale farms.

  [23:03]

• Will expand agro-industrialization to increase the value of agricultural products.

  [23:14]

• Will convince farmers of the benefits of mechanized, large-scale farming.

  [23:27]

EZEMA advocates for private, communal, and state land ownership, moving away from the current system where the government monopolizes land. They will allow farmers to sell or exchange their land to ensure economic benefits and proper compensation.

• Land ownership should be categorized into private, communal, and state.

  [24:57]

• The current constitutional provision making land state-owned creates a government monopoly that doesn't lift citizens out of poverty.

  [25:07]

• Farmers will have the right to sell and exchange their private land.

  [26:58]

• Private ownership will ensure farmers get proper compensation if displaced for large investments.

  [26:08]

• Strong, independent institutions will be established to protect farmers from being exploited when selling land.

  [29:00]

EZEMA promises to make Ethiopia self-sufficient in wheat within five years, focusing on making food accessible and affordable rather than just increasing raw numbers. They emphasize the need for protein and micronutrients, not just calories from wheat.

• The Ministry of Agriculture has failed because it focused only on increasing calories (wheat) while neglecting protein and micronutrients (milk, meat).

  [30:30]

• Pledges to make Ethiopia self-sufficient in wheat within five years.

  [31:29]

• Focuses on making processed food products (bread, macaroni, pasta) accessible and affordable at the household level.

  [31:52]

EZEMA plans to achieve sovereignty in fertilizer production within five years by utilizing domestic resources to produce organic fertilizers like compost and biogas byproducts.

• Will achieve self-sufficiency in fertilizer production within five years.

  [33:14]

• Will promote the production and use of organic fertilizers (bio-fertilizers, compost, biogas byproducts) using domestic resources.

  [33:28] [33:43]

Prosperity Party clarifies they haven't claimed full food sovereignty yet, but are on the path. They attribute inflation to global increases in production costs (fertilizer, fuel) rather than a lack of production, and outline plans to produce fertilizer domestically to lower costs.

• Wheat production reached 280 million quintals in the previous year (summer and winter combined).

  [34:43]

• Cost of living increases are due to rising global costs for imported agricultural inputs (fertilizer, fuel, machinery), not a lack of domestic production.

  [35:17]

• Construction has begun on a domestic fertilizer plant utilizing natural gas, which will produce 3 million metric tons of Urea annually.

  [36:31]

• Aims to achieve full agricultural transformation and exceed global productivity standards by 2040.

  [37:37]

• Plans to ensure food security by 2050 (Ethiopian calendar).

  [37:53]

Prosperity Party states that land tenure is a sensitive constitutional issue tied to identity and self-administration. They believe it should be resolved through the National Dialogue Commission with public and elite consensus, rather than dictated by a single party's manifesto.

• Land tenure is a sensitive issue tied to the identity and self-administration of nations and nationalities.

  [38:16]

• The party's stance is that constitutional amendments regarding land should be decided through the National Dialogue Commission, involving public participation and elite consensus, not just a party manifesto.

  [38:36] [39:36]

The government remains in fertilizer supply to ensure adequate provision and subsidies for farmers, as the private sector cannot currently handle the massive foreign exchange requirements. The party asserts it has the capacity to correct errors and hold corrupt individuals accountable.

• The private sector is not prohibited from importing fertilizer, but the government must lead because it requires $1.4 to $1.5 billion in foreign exchange annually.

  [40:34] [40:53]

• The government subsidizes fertilizer, spending over 84 billion birr annually to provide a discount of over 4,792 birr per quintal.

  [41:35]

• The government takes action against corruption, having held over 12 individuals accountable for recent fertilizer quality issues.

  [42:03]

Prosperity Party is working with international companies to develop domestic potash, phosphate, and natural gas resources to produce fertilizer locally within the next three to five years.

• Identified and confirmed domestic resources of potash, phosphate, and natural gas.

  [42:57]

• Partnering with experienced international companies (including Dangote) through Ethiopian Investment Holdings to produce fertilizer.

  [43:01]

• Aims to produce Urea domestically within three years and DAP within five years.

  [43:32]

The party acknowledges the gap between producer and consumer prices and is addressing it by expanding market infrastructure (like weekend markets), improving digital information access, and legally regulating brokerage.

• Expanding market infrastructure, having already launched over two weekend markets.

  [44:32]

• Improving access to market information through digital economy initiatives.

  [44:52]

• Addressing the issue of brokers through legal frameworks regulating agricultural brokerage.

  [45:02]

The government has implemented tax-free imports for agricultural machinery, increasing the number of tractors and mechanized farming areas, and is facilitating credit for farmers to purchase equipment.

• Allowed over 55 types of agricultural machinery to be imported tax-free.

  [45:19]

• Increased the number of tractors from 4,500 to 27,000, enabling 6.8 million hectares to be farmed mechanically.

  [45:30]

• Facilitating credit systems allowing farmers and pastoralists to acquire machinery with a 10% to 30% down payment.

  [45:51]

The party plans to initiate a constitutional amendment within their first 100 days in office to grant land ownership to farmers, dividing land into private, communal, and state categories.

• Will initiate a constitutional amendment within the first 100 days in office to make farmers and pastoralists land owners, decided by public referendum.

  [46:31]

• Land will be categorized into private ownership, communal ownership (for community development), and state ownership (for mountains, tourism, mining, and national interests).

  [47:03]

The party trusts farmers to make rational decisions about selling their land and argues that the current state monopoly is what truly impoverishes them. They will establish good governance and justice to prevent exploitation by the wealthy.

• Farmers are rational and know the consequences of selling their land; assuming they will blindly sell and be displaced is underestimating them.

  [47:50] [48:17]

• The current system of state land monopoly (used as a cadre control tool) is what has impoverished the people.

  [49:07]

• Will prevent state capture by the wealthy by establishing good governance, justice, and the rule of law.

  [49:30]

The party pledges to double agricultural productivity within five years by granting land ownership, providing technology, and removing government interference from the market.

• Will double agricultural productivity in the next five years.

  [51:15]

• Will create opportunities to produce agricultural inputs domestically, including organic fertilizers.

  [51:18]

• Will remove government-affiliated brokers from the trading system and encourage private investment.

  [51:22]

The party will limit the government's role to regulation and law enforcement, leaving supply to the private sector. However, they will provide subsidies during global crises to protect farmers from exorbitant prices.

• The government's role will be limited to monitoring, administering, and enforcing the law regarding fertilizer.

  [51:46]

• Fertilizer supply and distribution will be given to private investors.

  [51:52]

• Will provide government subsidies during global or regional crises to protect citizens and farmers.

  [52:32] [52:58]

The party claims these projects, started during the Derg regime, have been interrupted. They plan to consult with the public, fix the issues, and make them operational within two to three years.

• These projects were started during the Derg military regime and have been interrupted.

  [55:14]

• Will consult with the public, fix the mistakes, and make the projects operational within two to three years.

  [55:22]

The party plans to absorb the displaced agricultural workforce by expanding agro-industries and creating an industrial revolution in rural towns, shifting labor into the industrial and service sectors.

• Will accommodate the 20% by expanding agro-industries and creating an industrial revolution in rural towns.

  [55:53]

• Agricultural inputs will directly feed into the industry and service sectors, creating jobs for this population.

  [56:00]

• Job creation is possible by eliminating corruption and allowing private producers and merchants to operate freely.

  [56:56]

OLF plans to modernize agriculture by providing better machinery (tractors, combine harvesters, safe pesticide sprayers) and deploying agricultural experts directly to rural farmers, moving away from traditional ox-plow methods.

• Will provide better machinery (tractors, combine harvesters) and safer pesticide sprayers to replace backward tools that cause health issues.

  [58:35] [58:59]

• Will deploy agricultural experts directly to rural farmers to increase productivity.

  [59:05]

• Will ensure technology reaches deep into rural areas, not just areas close to cities.

  [58:13] [59:21]

OLF declines to give specific numerical targets, arguing that productivity depends on crop varieties, agro-ecology, and empowering farmers with knowledge rather than just dictating numbers.

• Productivity varies greatly depending on the crop variety and the specific agro-ecology of the area.

  [1:02:24]

• Refuses to provide specific numerical targets, calling it a political game and "false hope."

  [1:03:43]

• Focuses on empowering farmers with knowledge and skills to combine inputs with their local environment to increase productivity, rather than just providing inputs.

  [1:01:23] [1:04:16]

OLF believes land is a generational, public asset tied to identity and culture. They will grant farmers indefinite use rights (certificates) but prohibit the sale of land to protect poor farmers from being displaced by the wealthy.

• Land is a generational, public asset and the foundation of identity, culture, and language.

  [1:04:39] [1:05:26]

• Farmers will be given the right to use, develop, and take responsibility for the land, but it will not be for sale.

  [1:04:47] [1:06:42]

• Prohibiting land sales protects poor farmers from being displaced by wealthy individuals.

  [1:06:54]

OLF claims that the foundational ideas for these land proclamations, specifically the "Land to the Tiller" concept, originated from OLF leaders' historical struggles against the feudal system.

• The foundational idea for these proclamations ("Land to the Tiller") originated from the OLF.

  [1:07:56]

• OLF leaders historically struggled to return land from feudal landlords to the people.

  [1:08:03]

EZEMA differentiates itself through its land policy (advocating privatization), focus on comprehensive food sovereignty (including seeds and technology, not just wheat volume), emphasis on large-scale mechanization over fragmented plots, and promoting agro-processing to export value-added products instead of raw materials.

• EZEMA's land policy (privatization) clearly differentiates it from the ruling party.

  [1:14:35]

• Food sovereignty must include ownership of seeds, inputs, and technology, not just producing wheat.

  [1:14:48]

• Advocates for large-scale mechanized farming instead of the current fragmented plot system.

  [1:15:17]

• Focuses on agro-processing to export value-added products (e.g., processed coffee, rosemary) rather than raw materials.

  [1:16:06]

OLF focuses on improving the lives of the 80% rural population by replacing traditional farming methods with accessible, small-scale technologies, rather than just seeking international recognition for isolated projects.

• Focuses on practical improvements for the 80% rural population still using traditional ox-plows, rather than seeking international recognition for small projects.

  [1:12:21]

• Will replace traditional farming methods with accessible, small-scale and group-based technologies.

  [1:13:16]

OLF asserts it is a registered national party that has historically fought for the equality, peace, and mutual respect of all nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, combating the dominance of any single group.

• OLF is a national party registered with the National Election Board of Ethiopia.

  [1:17:12]

• The party's vision is for all nations and nationalities to live together in peace, equality, and tolerance, without superiority or inferiority.

  [1:17:32]

• OLF has historically fought against the dominance of a single ethnic group, paving the way for other parties.

  [1:17:48]

The party questions the validity of these successes, arguing that if they were real, the country wouldn't face severe inflation, massive debt, millions needing food aid, and widespread displacement.

• If these successes were real, there wouldn't be such severe cost of living issues or pressure from the World Bank and IMF.

  [1:19:27]

• The country is facing over $33 billion in debt and international lawsuits, contradicting claims of economic success.

  [1:19:38]

• Over 10 million citizens require emergency food aid, and 4 million are displaced due to conflict and identity-based attacks.

  [1:20:46]

OLF argues that international recognition for small projects doesn't equate to changing the lives of the masses. They criticize the focus on mono-cropping (wheat), which they claim has led to malnutrition and stunting, advocating instead for diversified crops based on local agro-ecology.

• International recognition for isolated projects has not changed the lives of the broader population, who remain in poverty.

  [1:21:24]

• The focus on mono-cropping (wheat) has reduced dietary diversity, leading to malnutrition and stunting in children.

  [1:21:33]

• Advocates for producing diversified crops suited to the local agro-ecology (comparative advantage) rather than forced mono-cropping.

  [1:22:06]

EZEMA acknowledges the beginnings are good but insists much more can be done. They point out that current wheat yields (20 tons/hectare) are far below global standards (110 tons/hectare) due to poor seed quality, lack of mechanization, and improper land management.

• Acknowledges the initiatives are a good start but emphasizes that much better results are possible.

  [1:22:51]

• Current wheat productivity (20 tons/hectare) is very low compared to developed nations (110 tons/hectare).

  [1:23:01]

• Low productivity is due to issues with seed quality, lack of mechanization, and poor land management.

  [1:22:54] [1:23:14]

Prosperity Party is investing heavily in domestic fertilizer production (Urea, Phosphate, Potash) to reduce logistics costs. In the meantime, they are prioritizing foreign exchange for imports, providing massive subsidies (84 billion birr this year), and training farmers in vermicompost production.

• Building a domestic fertilizer plant to produce 3 million metric tons of Urea annually, and plans to do the same for Phosphate and Potash.

  [1:24:04]

• Domestic production will eliminate sea transport costs, making fertilizer cheaper and more accessible.

  [1:24:18]

• Currently prioritizing foreign exchange for fertilizer imports and providing massive subsidies (84 billion birr this year, saving farmers over 4,792 birr per quintal) to offset global price increases.

  [1:24:37]

• Training farmers to produce vermicompost locally as an alternative fertilizer source.

  [1:25:15]

Prosperity Party disputes the opposition's figures as exaggerated. They claim to have reduced the number of aid recipients from 27 million to 2.4 million through increased productivity. They are also building a Disaster Risk Response Fund and strategic reserves to handle crises independently, and are working to return displaced persons.

• The figures cited for displaced persons and aid recipients are exaggerated and inaccurate.

  [1:25:58] [1:26:35]

• Reduced the number of aid recipients from 27 million in 2013 to 2.4 million through increased agricultural productivity.

  [1:26:11]

• Established a Disaster Risk Response Fund and legal framework to ensure humanitarian sovereignty and respond to crises independently.

  [1:26:46]

• Building strategic food reserves with a goal of storing 2 million metric tons of grain.

  [1:27:16]

• Taking legal action against extremist groups causing displacement and have already returned hundreds of thousands of displaced citizens to their homes.

  [1:28:15]

Prosperity Party assures that indigenous genetics are protected through a modern Gene Bank.

• Ethiopia has a leading biodiversity institute in Africa to protect indigenous genetics.

  [1:29:48]

• The government has established a modern Gene Bank to conserve thousands of animal, plant, and microorganism samples and use them for research to increase productivity.

  [1:30:08]

Prosperity Party counters that they have built numerous water projects in Borana to mitigate the drought and are currently completing a major water network project initiated by the Prime Minister.

• Built 17 medium and small dam projects, creating large ponds and lakes in Borana over the past four years to reduce water shortages and cattle deaths.

  [1:31:31]

• Currently fast-tracking the completion of the Borana water network project, which had been interrupted for years.

  [1:32:04]

Prosperity Party denies enforcing mono-cropping, stating their agricultural practices are based on scientific studies of local agro-ecology and comparative advantage, guided by the Agricultural Transformation Institute.

• Denies practicing mono-cropping; agricultural practices are based on scientific studies identifying the specific comparative advantage (best crop) for each area.

  [1:33:53]

• Agricultural strategies are guided by scientists and the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), not forced upon farmers.

  [1:34:26]

Prosperity Party explains their strategy to establish agro-industries in every district based on their agricultural surplus, aiming to transition from subsistence farming to a market-led, industrialized rural economy.

• Agro-industrialization requires first increasing agricultural production and productivity.

  [1:35:10]

• Implementing a strategy to establish 1 to 3 agro-processing industries in every district, depending on their level of agricultural surplus.

  [1:35:25]

• The goal is to shift agricultural production towards agro-industry and structural economic transformation.

  [1:35:52]

Prosperity Party highlights that the new Rural Land Administration Proclamation (1324/2016) specifically aims to protect the land use rights of vulnerable groups, including women, allowing them to use, lease, and use their holdings as collateral.

• Proclamation 1324/2016 was specifically revised to ensure the land holding rights of vulnerable groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

  [1:38:43]

• Under this proclamation, women have the right to use, lease, jointly develop, and use their land holdings as collateral for loans.

  [1:39:10]

• The law provides mechanisms to protect women's land rights during marriage disputes or inheritance issues.

  [1:39:24]

Prosperity Party defines "exemplary" as transforming Ethiopia from a symbol of famine to a recognized leader in wheat production, climate resilience (Green Legacy), and significantly increasing agricultural exports.

• "Exemplary" means transforming Ethiopia from a country known in the dictionary for famine to one recognized for wheat production.

  [1:41:58]

• Ethiopia is recognized globally as a leader in building a climate-resilient economy, evidenced by increasing forest cover from 16.3% to 25.6% and hosting international climate events.

  [1:42:19]

• Agricultural exports have grown significantly, contributing $4.1 billion (50% of total commodity exports) last year, showing a shift from subsistence to competitive global agriculture.

  [1:43:03]

Prosperity Party acknowledges the high cost of living, attributing it to global increases in production costs rather than low domestic output. They are mitigating this through subsidies, tax exemptions for machinery, and shortening the market chain, while continuing to boost overall production.

• Acknowledges the high cost of living, especially for low-income urban residents.

  [1:46:11]

• The inflation is driven by global increases in production costs, not a lack of domestic production.

  [1:46:18]

• Mitigating costs by subsidizing fertilizer, fuel, and agro-chemicals, and allowing tax-free import of mechanization equipment.

  [1:46:32]

• Working to shorten and modernize the market chain to reduce consumer prices.

  [1:46:47]