The Welkait Tegede Setit Humera Zone is one of the areas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia known as the “Land of White Gold” due to its extensive cotton production.
The zone is widely recognized for large-scale cotton cultivation. The ongoing cotton development activities are making a significant contribution to the profitability of investors engaged in the sector, according to Amhara Media report.
Among the agricultural investors operating in the zone, Rasachew Seged stated that during the 2024/25 production season, he cultivated cotton on 300 hectares of land and harvested more than 2,500 quintals of cotton.
He added that he is making extensive preparations for the upcoming harvest season and plans to cultivate cotton on more than 800 hectares of land, having already begun land-clearing activities.
Another investor in the zone, Yazezew Solomon, said that he has benefited greatly from cotton production. He noted that the foreign currency earnings generated from cotton have also improved the benefits enjoyed by other producers.
According to him, both production levels and market conditions have been improving over time. During the previous production season, he harvested 750 quintals of cotton from 50 hectares of land. For the current harvest season, he plans to cultivate 250 hectares and is currently undertaking various preparatory activities.
The Head of the Welkait Tegede Setit Humera Zone Agriculture Office, Aweke Mebratu, stated that cotton production in the zone has been showing encouraging results. Last year, 45,000 hectares of land were covered with cotton, yielding 450,000 quintals of production.
This year, the zone aims to increase performance by cultivating cotton on 80,000 hectares and producing 800,000 quintals. He said that improving market conditions have increased investor interest in the sector and described the productivity outlook as promising.
He also noted that farmers and investors are currently carrying out extensive land-clearing and field preparation activities ahead of the planting season.
Ethiopia has massive potential for commercial cotton farming, with over 2.6 million hectares of suitable land. Ethiopia’s cotton industry is primarily located in the Amhara, Afar, Tigray, SNNPR, Benishangul-Gumaz, and Gambela regions.
Major Cotton Farming Regions
– Awash Valley (Afar): The most established area for irrigated cotton, offering highly favorable climates and fertile soils.
– Amhara and Tigray: Dominated by rain-fed cotton production.
– Gambella, Omo, and Sitti Zone (Somali Region): Massive prospective areas targeted for large-scale, mechanized, and irrigated commercial operations.
