(Ecofin Agency) - Ethiopia exported 340,000 tons of legume during the 2016-17 season. This represents an increase by 32,000 tons compared to the volume produced during the previous campaign and a new record after the 318,000 tons in 2012-13.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) which revealed the figures, indicated that during the period under review, legume exports generated $255 million in foreign exchange revenues.

The main items exported included dry red beans (50% of export volume) and chickpeas (25%) while key destinations were Pakistan, Kenya, India, Yemen, and Russia.

Let’s recall that legumes are Ethiopia’s third foreign exchange provider after coffee and oilseeds. The country is the world's second largest faba beans producer and the sixth largest chickpeas supplier.

Espoir Olodo