Why is the amount of farmland in Eritrea limited?

The amount of land available for cultivation in Eritrea is primarily restricted by three key factors:

• Climate: The country experiences significant climatic variability, with low and often insufficient precipitation across much of the western plains and the northeastern plateau. Furthermore, the interior regions of the Danakil Plain are essentially rainless, making them unsuitable for traditional farming.1
• Soil Erosion: Extensive cultivation on the central highlands has led to significant soil erosion, which has stripped the land of its natural vegetation and reduced its agricultural viability.2
• Topography: The landscape is highly variegated and rugged. The central highlands are characterized by deep gorges and steep-sided, flat-topped tablelands known as ambas, which create an uneven surface that complicates large-scale agricultural development.23

While agriculture remains the most vital sector of the economy, these environmental and geographical constraints limit the expansion of farming, forcing most producers to focus on subsistence-based cultivation and traditional pastoralism.3