Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – On December 9, 2025, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Ethiopia hosted a crucial workshop on “Innovative Financing Mechanism for Agri-lime Supply Chain in Africa: Lessons, Challenges and Opportunities.” The event convened government agencies, research institutions, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to address one of the most significant threats to agricultural productivity in the region: soil acidity. 

Soil acidity is a severe challenge across Africa, and in Ethiopia, it is estimated to affect over 40% of the arable land. This widespread problem leads to declining crop yields by severely limiting the availability of essential nutrients and hindering root development, a crisis intensified by intensive farming, high rainfall, and inadequate soil fertility management. 

(Left) Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya, GGGI Ethiopia Country Representative (Right) Mr. Amsalu Abate, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

The proven intervention is the application of agricultural lime (Agri-lime), which is critical for neutralizing soil acidity, restoring soil health, and significantly increasing staple crop yields by as much as 90% to 130%+ in some experiments with crops like wheat and barley. While the Ethiopian government has made efforts to tackle this issue, these initiatives have often lacked the necessary efficiency and scale to meet the national demand. 

In his presentation, Dr. Basil Oberholzer, GGGI Senior Economic Officer, shared crucial insights: “The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is delivering promising results by successfully implementing a financing mechanism for agriculture lime supply in Zambia, which is helping to increase farmer access. Although a similar framework is being introduced in Ethiopia, its impact has been limited due to insufficient resources, low government commitment, and widespread awareness gaps.” He strongly recommended a robust partnership between the government and key stakeholders, including the private sector, to urgently address these systemic challenges. 

(Right) Dr. Dawit Habte, from Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

Addressing this head-on, the workshop was specifically designed to: share the experience, challenges, and lessons learned from the innovative financing mechanism for Agri-lime supply in Africa; raise awareness among potential donors and development partners on the scale and impact of soil acidity; showcase successful Agri-lime financing frameworks; and, most importantly, identify concrete funding opportunities and mechanisms to scale up effective soil acidity management interventions. 

During his opening remark, Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya, Country Representative of GGGI Ethiopia, emphasized the strategic necessity of the collaboration, stating, “A coordinated and comprehensive approach is essential to effectively address soil acidity. This requires the active involvement of the government, research institutions, agricultural extension services, private sector, and farmers.” 

(Left) Dr. Aweke Mulualem, Director, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute

The event was successful in laying the groundwork for mobilizing finance and partnerships that will scale equitable Agri-lime use in Ethiopia. This urgency is critical, as soil acidity continues to expand, and the opportunity to secure adequate resources narrows. Achieving success will require not just investment, but a streamlined, efficient distribution system that ensures lime reaches the smallholder farmers who need it most. 

Closing the event, Dr. Aweke Mulualem, Director of CSA and Sustainable NRM at the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute, stressed the importance of the collaboration between GGGI and the government to address this key national challenge. He affirmed that the government is ready to strengthen partnership with key stakeholders to find innovative solutions such as new financing mechanisms to treat soil acidity and increase productivity while rehabilitating soil resources. 

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Media Contact: 

Tesfagebriel Tekola, Ethiopia 

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