Ethiopia can also produce irrigated cotton. Out of 84,000 hectares of land that is under cotton cultivation, only 35,000 hectares is irrigated. The major potential cotton-growing areas include Omo, Ghibe, Wabi-Shebelle, Awash, Baro-Akobo, Blue Nile and Tekeze river basins (ICAC, 2014). Figure 1.
What is the economic role of cotton in Ethiopia?
Economic role of cotton in Ethiopia Cotton as Industrial input: Cotton crop has direct connections with various agro-processing industries like textile, oil mills and the livestock sub sector. In other words, the crop has a direct linkage with the industrial sector. It is a major industrial input for textile firms.
Does Ethiopia produce cotton?
Ethiopia is one of the African countries that produce and export cotton. It has a long tradition of cotton cultivation with an estimated area of 2.6 million hectares suitable for this product. Of these 65% is found in 38 high potential cotton-producing areas and the remaining 0.9 million ha or 35% is in 75 medium potential districts.
Why is cotton a major cash crop in Ethiopia?
Cotton is a major cash crop. From the 1940s to 1970s, Ethiopia was importing raw cotton to satisfy the domestic demand of its textile factories. Following the establishment of state farms and large-scale private farms in 1970s, the country started exporting cotton.