The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) has launched Ethiopia OpenAgriNet (Ethiopia OAN), a national digital initiative to create interoperable public infrastructure for the secure, consent-based sharing of agricultural data.
Officials speaking at the launch said that achieving interoperability and unlocking the full value of agricultural data will require strong collaboration among stakeholders across the digital ecosystem. The initiative is expected to play a central role in modernising Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, strengthening national data systems, and improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
The platform is designed to integrate farmers, extension services, markets, climate intelligence, financial services, and government programmes into a single, open and trusted digital network. By consolidating multiple systems, the initiative seeks to enhance access to information and improve coordination across the agricultural value chain.
Speaking during the launch, Dawit Philipos, Chief Operating Officer of ATI, said that in agriculture, “data has the power to transform productivity, resilience, and livelihoods.” However, he noted that agricultural data in Ethiopia continues to face significant challenges.
According to Dawit, data gaps and shortages persist, while existing information remains fragmented across government institutions, private sector actors and development partners. Much of the available data is stored in siloed systems, limiting the ability to develop a comprehensive view of the sector. He also cited limited mechanisms for data verification and validation as a major constraint.
He emphasized that Ethiopia OpenAgriNet is designed to address these challenges by integrating fragmented data systems into a unified and interoperable digital framework, enabling more effective and efficient use of agricultural data across the sector. As part of the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, Dawit added that OpenAgriNet will integrate with national digital platforms such as Fayda, the country’s digital identification system, and align with the government’s Digital Agriculture Roadmap.
ATI Director for Technology and Digital Innovations Girum Ketema said the initiative prioritizes making technology, particularly artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, work for smallholder farmers rather than requiring farmers to adapt to complex digital systems. By combining farmer-controlled data rights with a simple voice-based interface, he explained, the platform will deliver AI-enabled advisory services, financial solutions and market linkages to communities that have historically been excluded from the digital economy.
Protean eGov Technologies Ltd Chief Business Officer Ashish Chatterjee said the company brings more than three decades of experience in designing and operating India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, including systems for taxation, foundational identity, eKYC, eSign, open digital ecosystems and e-commerce, as well as extensive expertise in deploying artificial intelligence at population scale.
