一位德国移民在1858年将马铃薯引进到埃塞俄比亚。在随后的几十年里，埃塞俄比亚高原地区的农民开始试种这一新的作物，作为谷物歉收时的一种“保障手段”。
在非洲国家中，埃塞俄比亚生产马铃薯的潜力最大：其70%的可耕地（主要是海拔1500米以上的地区）适于种植马铃薯。由于高原地区也是埃塞俄比亚近90%人口的家园，马铃薯可在确保国家粮食安全方面发挥关键作用。
目前，马铃薯依然被广泛地视为次级作物，人均消费量仅仅为5公斤。但是马铃薯的种植正在稳步扩增。据粮农组织估计，其马铃薯产量已经从1993年的28万吨增加到2007年的大约52.5万吨。
埃塞俄比亚
Agricultural Statistics Ethiopia
| Potato Production in 2022 : | 1294300.00 | t | Imputed value | ℹ |
| Potato Yield in 2022 : | 173205.00 | 100 g/ha | Estimated value | ℹ |
| Potato Area Harvested in 2022 : | 74727.00 | ha | Imputed value | ℹ |
| Sweet Potato Production in 2022 : | 1000580.00 | t | Imputed value | ℹ |
| Sweet Potato Yield in 2022 : | 229044.00 | 100 g/ha | Estimated value | ℹ |
| Sweet Potato Area Harvested in 2022 : | 43685.00 | ha | Imputed value | ℹ |
| Potato Production in 2021 : | 1141860.00 | t | Imputed value | ℹ |
Consumption Statistics Ethiopia
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2021: | 7.74 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
| Sweet Potatoes , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2021: | 12.76 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Sweet Potatoes |
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2020: | 8.07 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
| Sweet Potatoes , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2020: | 12.34 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Sweet Potatoes |
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2019: | 7.02 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
| Sweet Potatoes , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2019: | 13.98 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Sweet Potatoes |
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2018: | 7.09 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
