Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited the North Shewa Zone today, hailing a historic economic transformation where the "summer wheat" initiative has successfully liberated citizens from the cycle of aid dependency. The Prime Minister confirmed that the zone has reached 100% self-sufficiency, transitioning from a region once reliant on safety nets to a high-income development hub.

The scale of this shift is reflected in the zone’s skyrocketing revenue. While previously the region's income was too low to mention, North Shewa generated between 8 and 9 billion Birr this year, nearly half of what the entire Oromia Region collected annually just five years ago. This surge is driven not only by wheat but by a thriving dairy and poultry sector that now sends 500,000 liters of milk to cities daily, earning farmers 16 billion Birr a year.

During his visit today, the Prime Minister observed that this wealth is fundamentally changing rural life. Farmers are now purchasing modern pickup trucks, enrolling their children in quality schools, and adopting modern nutritional standards. With young farmers accumulating wealth of up to 10 million Birr through these agricultural interventions, the Prime Minister noted that the success in North Shewa serves as a definitive blueprint for a modern, prosperous Ethiopia.