ADDIS ABABA-The Animal Husbandry Value Chain Exhibition and Conference will bring together over 100 exhibitors from 14 countries to connect with more than 5,000 trade and professional visitors.
The event, scheduled for October 31 at Millennium Hall, Addis Ababa, will run for three days, fostering innovation and collaboration in Ethiopia’s livestock industry.
Organized by Prana Events, the event will take place under the theme “Livestock: Now and the Future; Current Opportunities, Challenges, and the Way Forward.” It will bring together experts from government, the private sector, and international organizations to discuss current challenges and explore future growth opportunities within the livestock sector.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Prana Events Managing Director Nebeyu Lemma noted that the expo will showcase the latest technologies, inputs, and solutions designed to advance animal husbandry. He indicated that the event will create market linkages, promote investment, and facilitate knowledge sharing on innovative production systems.
The event will also feature the official Netherlands Pavilion for the third consecutive year, reinforcing international partnerships and technology transfer. Participating countries include China, Germany, the U.S., Turkey, Kenya, and more, making it a hub for global leaders in the livestock value chain.
Nebeyu further noted that the conference aims to ensure food security by boosting Ethiopia’s livestock resources, improving productivity in the dairy and meat sectors, and modernizing agricultural practices.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Executive Lead for Livestock and Fisheries, Tsigereda Fekadu, mentioned the government’s Yelimat Tirufat program, a four-year initiative to enhance production in dairy, poultry, and honey sectors to meet growing consumer demand. She also noted that while Ethiopia is one of the largest livestock-owning countries, productivity remains a challenge, requiring policy interventions and sustainable practices.
The three-day event aims to strengthen Ethiopia’s livestock value chain, foster market cooperation, and spotlight investment opportunities that will contribute to food security and economic growth.
Ethiopia’s animal husbandry sector is essential to the economy and cultural heritage, featuring one of Africa’s largest livestock populations, including cattle, sheep, goats, and camels. It supports millions of rural households by providing income, food security, and employment, with products like milk, meat, leather, and wool vital for local consumption and export.
BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER 2024
