Introduction [In The Economics of Teff]

Ethiopia is one of the most populous countries in Africa with the agricultural sector playing an important role in the country. It is estimated that in 2011 the agricultural sector contributed about 45 percent to gross domestic product (GDP). More important, it is a major source of employment in the country, with almost 80 percent of the population making a livelihood in the sector (World Bank 2014a). Understanding the complex linkages in agriculture, and identifying opportuntities and challenges to improve its performance, is therefore fundamental. Moreover, while Ethiopia has made important strides in the reduction of poverty and the improvement of food security over the past decades, poverty and food insecurity levels remain high. At the forefront, government policies and stakeholders have made enormous efforts to improve the functioning of the agricultural sector and of staple food sectors in particular, along with attempts to understand what policies and investments are likely to have the most impact.