Addis Ababa, June 17, 2026 (Ministry of Agriculture): The House of People’s Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture Affairs has convened a public hearing on the draft proclamation for Farmers’ Agribusiness Companies (ABCs), marking an important milestone toward advancing Ethiopia’s transition to a competitive, market-oriented, and business-driven agricultural sector.
The hearing brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses Corporation, Ethiopian Cooperative Commission, Ethiopian Agricultural Authority, Regional bureaus of agriculture, the Ministry of Justice, and smallholder farmers.
Participants engaged in substantive deliberations, raising questions and providing constructive feedback on the draft proclamation, with particular attention to both its opportunities and implementation considerations.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Solomon Lale, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture Affairs, underscored the necessity of establishing a comprehensive legal framework that enables smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and agro-pastoralists to organize themselves into formal business entities.
He noted that the proclamation would facilitate the conversion of land-use rights, livestock assets, and labor into capital, thereby enhancing economic participation and improving income-generating opportunities.
H.E. Addisu Arega Kitessa, Minister of Agriculture, addressed the issues raised during the discussion. The Minister emphasized that the establishment of Farmers’ Agribusiness Companies is intended to complement and strengthen existing institutions and service providers, rather than replace them.
He further reiterated that Ethiopia’s agricultural reform agenda is focused on transforming smallholder farmers into commercially oriented and competitive agricultural entrepreneurs.
Similarly, Dr. Mandefro Nigussie, Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), highlighted that the draft proclamation should be understood as an enabling legal framework designed to enhance synergy among stakeholders involved in agricultural input supply, marketing, and related services.
He stated that its implementation would contribute to the development of a more efficient, integrated, and competitive agricultural system.
The public hearing concluded with a shared commitment among policymakers, institutions, and farming communities to advance a modern, inclusive, and resilient agricultural sector, supported by a robust legal and policy framework.
