Addis Ababa, September 17, 2026 (Ministry of Agriculture)โ The Second Ethiopia International Date Palm Festival 2026 will be held in Semera, Afar Region, from September 20-22, 2026, bringing together local and international date palm growers, investors, researchers, development partners, and policymakers to promote investment, innovation, and sustainable development in Ethiopiaโs growing date palm sector.
The festival is jointly organized by the Afar National Regional Government, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation. The three-day event will showcase investment opportunities, technological innovations, and best agricultural practices aimed at accelerating the growth of Ethiopiaโs date palm industry and strengthening Ethiopia-UAE cooperation in agriculture and food security.
Announcing the event at a press conference, Prof. Ali Mohamed, Advisor to the state minister at the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted Ethiopiaโs vast potential for date palm cultivation. He noted that an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 hectares of land are suitable for date palm production, yet only about 1.2% of this potential is currently utilized. Expanding cultivation in areas with favorable agroecological conditions, groundwater resources, and river systems, he said, would help reduce the countryโs reliance on imported dates while boosting food security, creating employment opportunities, and improving livelihoods, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
Prof. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Secretary General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, described the festival as an important milestone in the growing partnership between Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. He said the second edition will build on the success of the inaugural festival by focusing on knowledge transfer, capacity building, investment promotion, improved production practices, and stronger linkages between research institutions and market opportunities.
Meanwhile, Harun Ali, Deputy Head of the Afar Agriculture and Natural Resources Bureau, underscored the Afar Regionโs immense potential for date palm production and reaffirmed the regionโs readiness to host the international gathering. He noted that ongoing efforts are being made to ensure the festival provides an effective platform for showcasing the regionโs agricultural opportunities, attracting investment, and strengthening collaboration among growers, researchers, and development partners.
The festival will contribute to the development of an integrated and competitive date palm value chain, supporting food security, economic growth, and sustainable rural development across Ethiopia.
