There is no staple food that is consumed throughout the country, but there are a great variety of cereals and other food crops consumed according to the food preferences of the different regions. The annual consumption per capita in wheat flour, bakery products and pasta is estimated as follows:

The estimated consumption of the main urban centers of wheat flour, bakery products and pasta during the year is as follows (according to a 1995/1996 household survey) :

Statistical data from the Central Statistics Authority (CSA) on the production of cereals are presented in the table below.

The national production of processed cereals is tabulated as follows according to the statistical data from the CSA:

In terms of food security, Ethiopia's total production of grain is not adequate to meet its demands, since national production only meets 65% of the country's requirements.

Ethiopia's structural grain deficit, which is only being eliminated slowly and with great effort, has necessitated a regular injection of imports the bulk of which are in the form of food aid. The following table shows statistical data obtained from the CSA regarding import of cereals :