August 18, 2014-Africa Review reports that US-based Dow Chemical, is targeting small-scale farmers with technology and skills to transform subsistence farming into viable commercial farms. The Review quotes Rod Foran, commercial leader of Dow AgroSciences for the East Africa region.

According to Ross McLean, leader for the company’s sub-Saharan business, “We are in the process of setting up our office in Ethiopia to continue bringing technologies suitable for the local market.” He said further, “We see great potential in Ethiopia for sustainable business in partnership with local companies.”

Company officials cite a new herbicide, ‘Pallas’, to increase the productivity of teff-grown as a staple of the Ethiopian diet. The herbicide is expected to boost productivity by ridding farmers of the tedious job of weeding by hand and also clears grass that usually grows along with teff. The herbicide has been tested and approved by the Ethiopian Government.

Mr. McLean added that, “Teffis becoming popular globally because it is gluten-free. I think it could soon become a foreign currency earner for Ethiopia. Only Ethiopia and Eritrea produce teff.

From 2004 to 2011, teff cultivation expanded from 2.14 million hectares to 2.76 million hectares, making it the single most important staple in Ethiopia. Teff is cultivated by about 6.2 million farmers and counts as the largest share of the total value of cereal production.