Being first and fifth in possessing livestock population in the African continent and globally respectively, Ethiopia has not yet been benefited out of the resource so far. Cognizant of the fact that a number of factors have to be cited along this line, The Ethiopian Herald had a stay with Dawud Tafa, an agriculturalist graduated from Haramaya University, specialized in animal husbandry, to have ample information about the contribution of livestock resource and the factors affecting the sector not to be as productive as expected to help the nation register growth.
He said, “Livestock in Ethiopia has made a major, although largely underestimated, contribution to economic development in Ethiopia especially in the rural part of the country. The sector produces food, enhances crop production and provides people with additional economic goods and services as well as cash income. The inclusion of livestock diversifies provides year-round employment, and fosters farm investments.”
However, he said, a range of factors like animal exporting, illegal cattle sale/cross-border transportation, contraband better to say, and low level of awareness about the significance of running activities through legal channel are seriously affecting the nation not to harvest gain out of the sector.
If such an illegal move is reined somewhere and the cattle have been transported through train, there is a good start of course, and the country would be in a position to well exploit the livestock resource as effectively as possible.
He said, “If well established regulatory bodies are set, the security in the country is given due emphasis and awareness raising activities are widely done, Ethiopia can gain advantage out of the livestock sector as it deserves.”
As to him, livestock often form the major capital reserve of farming households and, in general, enhance the economic viability and sustainability of a farming system. Since the sector has played a significant role in the country’s economy, accounting for 40% of the GDP and 80% of exports and employs 75% of the country’s workforce, the livestock subsector needs to be well tied with livestock production, and even country’s Ten-Year Strategic Development Plan appreciates it.
By the way, he opined, being the first for Ethiopia in the continent and fifth in the world is not an easy matter, instead it is a great opportunity to help the nation work more to make a remarkable difference regarding the sector. Additionally, the livestock sector is believed to provide a number of citizens with employment. It also provides food in the form of meat, milk, eggs, and honey, among others.
He further stated that, livestock also serves as an input for agro-processing industries and provides manure for crop cultivation and cooking fuel. However, despite having a significant livestock population, the productivity per animal in the country is relatively low compared to other East African countries.
“However, the sector faces various challenges, including the dominance of small-scale farmers practicing traditional methods, low-productive technology, low input and output production systems, and a lack of supportive development policies, strategies, and institutional arrangements and even the worst animal contraband. As these challenges have resulted in a decline in productivity, and production, and slow progress in the sector, the government and the farming community have to attach due emphasis to it,” he added.
As to him, it is essential to leverage the country’s vast livestock resources and improve livestock productivity to address the future crisis, too. In terms of production systems, there is limited knowledge of improved livestock husbandry practices, and the majority of farmers operate in subsistence and smallholder production systems. The sector is also affected by recurrent droughts, which lead to emaciation and death of livestock. Moreover, the livestock market faces challenges such as inadequate market infrastructure, lack of grades and standards, and limited access to timely and reliable market information.
Other constraints include, he said, breeding-related problems, lack of finance and credit services, inappropriate institutional arrangements, poor extension services, and inadequate infrastructure for slaughterhouses and animal welfare. These challenges have to be well addressed to help the country gain benefit as it deserves.
Addressing these constraints and promoting sustainable livestock development is crucial to meet the growing demand for livestock products, optimize social, economic, and environmental benefits, and ensure the well-being of livestock farmers in the country, Dawud underscored.
The sector is of utmost importance to the community’s livelihood. This shortage of experts, coupled with a lack of budget and working facilities, hampers the livestock sector’s ability to fulfill its mandate effectively, as to him.
Some policies, such as the national poultry development, national animal breeding for genetic improvement, and national animal feed resources development, have to be put into effect, indeed!
Livestock, because of their linkages with the overall farming system, make valuable entry points for wider agricultural development programs. To exploit these opportunities, an integrated approach that combines both technical and institutional interventions is required, Dawud said.
As to him, in Ethiopia, the agricultural sector is a cornerstone of the economic and social life of the people, it is obvious. The Livestock economic and social importance both at the household and national levels, is quite lucrative if managed and regulate properly and legally. As Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa, but minimal economic contribution, the country should work hard to well exploit the subsector.
True, a livestock sector serves as a strategic reserve that adds stability to the overall fanning system. In this respect, a mix of species increases stability; for example, cattle represent a long-term investment whereas sheep, goats and poultry are primarily shorter-term investments and sources of petty cash, he opined.
Typically, livestock products also have a high elasticity of demand but a low elasticity of supply, particularly in land-based smallholder production, and major environmental issues have recently arisen over the provision of new water sources, however, particularly perennial boreholes.
“A number of macroeconomic policies also have direct and indirect impacts on livestock production. Institutional structures have a bearing on a wide range of support services that affect livestock production, such as marketing boards, quality and hygiene standards, extension and research, and agricultural education,” he added.
The breakdown of a livestock subsector into various production systems is justified given the differences that exist in available resources and applied technologies, as well as in primary products and their uses. Livestock production has grown faster than agricultural production in most developing countries like ours, and growth has come primarily from the expansion of livestock numbers rather than an increase in productivity, he opined.
As to Dawud, increased livestock production will depend ultimately on the adoption of appropriate technology, improved support services, market access and infrastructural development to stimulate increased productivity. However, there must be a framework of coherent policies and development strategies that facilitate such development and ensure that the full potential of livestock across the nation has to be well exploited. To this end, the country and its government are is working hard via organizing conditions.
The majority of livestock are held in the small-holder sector, small but widespread increases in productivity could, overall, make a considerable impact he said adding that the problems are that in risk-adverse communities where animals are kept for many purposes the system of promoting livestock wealth must be reinvigorated. Though to change the unfavorable systems is not easy, the government along with development partners is expected to work more to make a difference.
Yes, he added, several measures need to be taken so as to address these challenges. It is crucial to recognize and appreciate the contribution of the livestock sector and acknowledge the existing productivity gap especially in relation to contraband and illegal cattle sale. Besides, efforts should be made to change the behavior, attitudes, and beliefs of livestock keepers to boost production and productivity. The strategies that enhance livestock extension services and improve access to input and output markets for producers should also be developed.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2024
