AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY

The contribution of the agricultural sector to the real GDP of Ethiopia according to official sources was 41.6% in 2010 preceded by the Service sector, which was 45.5%. In terms of employment creation, the sector plays an even larger role, accounting for 80% of employment overall in the country.

The percentage is even higher among rural inhabitants in SNNPR where the agriculture sector accounts for 91% of all employment. The strong role of the agricultural sector in the creation of employment, income generation and GDP leaves the Ethiopian economy extremely vulnerable, given the agriculture sector’s sensitivity to climatic variability, which is likely to be aggravated further in the years to come.