About

The Ministry

Irrigation has been used to develop large to medium-scale farms in Ethiopia. However, given the possibilities it offers for the country’s agriculture sector and overall economic development, it remains underutilized. Moreover, as Ethiopia has envisioned to become a middle-income country by 2023 E.C, the proper utilization of natural resources and irrigation technology can help in realizing this vision.

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Mandate

In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE), expand irrigation development in pastoral and semi-pastoral areas.

Facilitate the proper utilization of groundwater and surface water resources of the country for irrigation in consultation with the Ministry of Water and Energy.

Develop irrigation projects that are supported by innovative technologies that will enhance productivity and to adopt mechanisms for effective use of water.

Promote irrigation development projects through different means and create conducive conditions for private investors to gain incentives in accordance with the law.

Initiate policies, strategies, and laws with respect to irrigation development, lowlands, and drought-prone areas; prepare detailed programs compatible with the national development plan for their implementation and implement the same upon approval.

Accelerate the expansion of irrigation development to achieve food security and eventually export income.

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Message from the Minister

Ethiopia embarked on irrigation and lowland development as a high-priority sector to ensure national food sovereignty and self-sufficiency.

To effect drought resilience and avert the negative effects of climate change and weather variability, the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands (MILLs) has set ambitious goals of implementing efficient, sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective irrigation schemes that enable medium to largescale agriculture and are expected to transform food production in the country. Furthermore, using water as a core resource, the ministry has goals of leapfrogging the development and governance of lowland areas by deploying innovative and Integrated Sustainable Development (ISD) solutions, leveraging advanced and environmentally friendly technologies.

I believe that transforming food production through technology-enabled irrigation development, as well as integrated and sustainable lowland development, is a strategy that will substantially contribute to averting poverty and mitigating climate change impacts. Accordingly, we are exerting unprecedented efforts to streamline and modernize the traditional irrigation system and lowland development efforts, which are the explicit priority areas in the new Growth and Transformation Plan of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

To achieve such ambitious objectives, the MILLs need the support of local, international and governmental stakeholders. I would like to kindly invite our governmental counterparts, the private sector and development partners to join us on these transformative journeys of enabling food sovereignty as well as lowland development and governance while achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

H.E. Eng. Aisha Mohammed MussaMinister of Irrigation and LowlandsFederal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

MINISTRY OF IRRIGATION AND LOWLANDS

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