Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers has endorsed a landmark proclamation that, if ratified by Parliament, will open the country’s agricultural extension services to private and non-governmental actors a fundamental departure from the state-dominated model that has defined rural advisory support for decades.The Pluralistic Agricultural Extension Service Proclamation, developed by the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and development partners, seeks to modernise a system widely seen as outdated and insufficient to meet the needs of Ethiopia’s increasingly diverse and commercially-oriented farming population.While the Council’s approval is a critical political signal, the proclamation must still be passed by Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives before it becomes law. Parliamentary debate is expected in the coming month, and observers say the public debate over the law before legislation will test the government’s commitment to reform in a sector that remains politically and economically sensitive.For years, Ethiopia’s extension services have relied on more than 70,000 public development agents  government trained advisors deployed across rural areas. Though the model enabled the state to scale up technical assistance in agriculture, it has long been criticised for its rigidity, lack of innovation, and limited responsiveness to local needs.“This reform acknowledges the institutional limits of the public sector and aims to introduce a more dynamic, multi-actor approach,” said a source close to the matter. “Farmers today need more than just basic agronomy advice — they require market intelligence, climate resilience strategies, and access to technology.”The pluralistic model, which allows non-state actors such as private firms, NGOs, and cooperatives to provide extension services, is gaining traction globally as countries seek more flexible and inclusive approaches to agricultural development. For Ethiopia — where agriculture contributes over 30 percent of GDP and employs more than two-thirds of the workforce the stakes are particularly high.In recent years, the government has faced growing pressure to revitalise agricultural systems amid climate shocks, supply chain disruptions, and persistent food insecurity. The new framework aims to enable innovation and competition, while easing the fiscal and operational burden on the state.However, the path forward is not without challenges. Analysts caution that introducing a diverse set of actors into the extension space could complicate coordination, undermine quality control, and introduce inequality in service access if not carefully regulated.“There is clear potential for impact, but it will require strong oversight, clear mandates, and mechanisms to ensure accountability especially to smallholder farmers,” said an agricultural policy expert based in Addis Ababa.Institutional resistance may also be a factor. Some within the public extension system are likely to view the reform as a threat to job security and influence, according to insiders. Yet reformers argue that a pluralistic model need not replace the public system, but rather complement and improve it. (ICE ADDIS ABEBA)

Fonte notizia: birr metrics By Yared Seyoum