Ethiopia is positioning sorghum as a strategic flagship commodity to drive agrifood system transformation.

At the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026, policymakers, investors, development partners, and private‑sector leaders convened to explore how sorghum can strengthen resilience, improve livelihoods, enhance nutrition, and create jobs.

Opening the session, AGRA Ethiopia Country Director, Dr. Yihenew Zewdie welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of mobilizing investment to transform sorghum into a commercially viable and self‑sustaining commodity that contributes to national economic growth.

Senior Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Getachew Diriba outlined Ethiopia’s investment proposition, highlighting favorable seed laws, the contract farming proclamation, tax incentives, agro‑industrial parks, expanded electricity infrastructure, and access to COMESA and AfCFTA markets.

Technical Lead of the National Sorghum Flagship Programme Development Task Force, Dr. Maru Shete presented the investment case, underscoring opportunities in seed business, post‑harvest management, livestock feed value addition, and processing for the food and beverage industry.

Sorghum’s potential extends well beyond the farm. As a climate-resilient crop suited to many of Africa’s dryland farming areas, it can help diversify food systems while supporting farmers, processors, livestock producers and emerging agro-industries.

Expanding value addition could also reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen domestic food supplies and create new employment and trade opportunities.

Closing the session, Ambassador Mesfin Gebremariam called for stronger private-sector partnerships to unlock sorghum’s potential in investment, value addition, trade, job creation and shared prosperity. He reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to building a predictable and conducive environment for investment.

As preparations advance toward the Pan-Africa Sorghum Alliance, the Kigali dialogue positioned sorghum as a strategic platform for Africa’s broader agricultural transformation—linking food security and nutrition with rural livelihoods, industrialization, regional trade and inclusive growth.

For Africa, sorghum represents more than a crop: it is an opportunity to build more resilient food systems, strengthen local value chains and turn agricultural potential into shared prosperity.