Azerbaijan, Ethiopia forge new ties in agricultural modernisation

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov, has met with his Ethiopian counterpart, Girma Amente, to explore ways of modernising agricultural practices and expanding bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the second United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4), currently being held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Discussions focused on enhancing agricultural technology, boosting trade between the two countries, and implementing training programmes aimed at strengthening professional capacity and expertise in the agricultural sector.

Azerbaijan has embarked on an ambitious modernisation strategy, integrating digital platforms, precision agriculture technologies, agro‑parks, and artificial intelligence into its farming sector.

Through initiatives such as the State Programme for Food Safety (2019–2025), the country has adopted drone and satellite monitoring, smart irrigation systems, livestock vaccination and registration systems, and targeted training for farmers and specialists.

These reforms have supported export growth—agri‑food exports reached over US$1 billion in 2024, rising by 11.3% year-on-year, and fruit and vegetable exports alone exceeded $153 million in the first quarter of 2025.

Ethiopia, where over 80% of the population depends on agriculture—which accounts for some 34% of GDP and around 70% of export earnings—faces persistent challenges such as land degradation, climate‑driven droughts and floods, and inadequate access to inputs and infrastructure. 

In response, Ethiopia launched national dialogues and a Food System Transformation roadmap aligned with UNFSS Action Tracks, aiming to build resilience, enhance sustainability, and improve nutrition.

By Aghakazim Guliyev