Determinants of the production of major food crops in Ethiopia

Abstract

Crop production is the major sub-sector within agriculture and in the overall economy of Ethiopia contributing over 60 percent of agricultural output. However, production of food crops has been less of domestic requirement for several years. The main objective of the study is therefore, to identify and analyze the determinants of the production of major food crops in the country. Both qualitative and empirical analyses are made in the study. The results obtained from the empirical analysis indicate that the major determining factors for the per-capita production of major food crops and average land productivity in the country are drought, harvested land area and fertilizer consumption. In order to reduce the widening gap between domestic food production and requirement, a combination of policy measures and actions are required. These include guaranteeing land tenure security, increasing the share of public expenditure in agriculture, research and extension on traditional food crops and organic fertilizer, voluntary resettlement and utilizing the untapped irrigation potential of the country.