The country has a rich historical and cultural heritage. Apart from a brief period of occupation by the Italians during the second World War, Ethiopia is the only African country to have never been colonized. Historically, Ethiopia has suffered from wars, food shortages, and famines. More recently, it has also been both a host to and source of large numbers of refugees. While the government has touted agricultural development as one of the foundations for economic growth, progress is hampered by the heavy reliance on traditional technology, fragmented landholdings, deteriorating land fertility and unreliable rainfall.
Some areas suffer chronic food deficits.
Over two million people are estimated to be chronically food insecure, while up to eight million people are vulnerable to transitory food insecurity. Large volumes of food aid, Ethiopia on average receives 677,500 MT per year from WFP and others, are typically required. Present in Ethiopia since 1965, WFP has from the beginning played a key role in food aid coordination. Moreover, WFP has been active in advocating and influencing the development of both the national food security strategy, which addresses the chronically vulnerable and a land use policy that safeguards the environment. WFP's country programme of activities has consistently focused on food deficit areas, addressing land degradation, human resources development, urban poverty, refugees and famine relief.