The Oromia Bureau of Agriculture was established on March 1, 1985 E.C., under the Government of the Oromia Region, based on the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). Before its establishment, employees recruited by the Ministry of Agriculture were working on crop development, livestock development and health protection, natural resources, and other agricultural sectors. These employees were transferred to the regional government, and the structure of the Bureau was organized down to the kebele level, providing services to farmers and pastoralists and carrying out agricultural development activities on a large scale.
Since its establishment, the name of the Oromia Bureau of Agriculture and its organizational structure have been continuously improved and changed over time, based on the powers and duties granted by law. In this organizational change, agricultural production and productivity have been strengthened, and agriculture has been strengthened as a pillar of the national economy, focusing on accelerating agricultural transformation smoothly and favorably, ensuring food security, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and ensuring the participation of farmers.
Currently, based on Proclamation No. 242/2014 E.C., issued in September 2014 E.C., this Bureau is organized under a new structure with the name "Oromia Bureau of Agriculture" and is carrying out its work.
In this new structure, the Oromia Bureau of Agriculture has seven major departments. These are: Agriculture Department; Natural Resources and Food Security Department; Livestock Resource Development Department; Coffee and Fruit Development Department; Animal Health Protection Department; Plant Protection Department; and Support Services Department. In addition, the structure of this Bureau includes 21 zonal agriculture offices, 294 woreda agriculture offices, 23 city agriculture offices, and 6,461 rural kebeles.
The Oromia Bureau of Agriculture has been strongly fulfilling its responsibilities given by the government and the people by preparing various policies and strategies. It is also working to strengthen food security, ensure sustainable economic growth, and reduce the impacts of climate change by organizing and mobilizing the human and natural resources of the farmers and pastoralists of the region, and by implementing prepared policies and strategies.
The Bureau is working to promote agricultural production and productivity by transforming the traditional agricultural system widely spread in the region into modern technology and modern agricultural systems. Since its establishment, the Oromia Bureau of Agriculture has played a significant role in ensuring food security for the Oromia region and the country as a whole. Especially since the sectoral transformation was given special attention, based on the in-depth improvement and renewal works carried out, it has been working focusing on four major fundamental results. These are: ensuring food security and the food system; increasing export quality and quantity; substituting imported agricultural products with domestic production; and creating job opportunities.
To properly implement these objectives on the ground, to accelerate the transformation of the agricultural sector, and to bring about national, economic, and broad structural transformation, the Oromia Bureau of Agriculture has prepared the Oromia Agricultural Transformation Strategy Document.
To achieve the objectives set in the strategic plan, the Oromia Agricultural Transformation Agenda and initiatives have been prepared, and effective development works are being carried out.