ADDIS ABABA– Ethiopian Poultry Producers and Processors Association (EPPPA) said that it is intensifying efforts to increase jobs on the poultry sector and boost its advantages for health.
Genene Tesfaye President of the Association told to The Ethiopian Herald that the sector can create more job opportunities than other sectors. It will also play significant role in improving peoples’ health if the actors on the sector give emphasis to breeding higher protein chicken. Meanwhile, it needs more cooperative works to make the sector efficient, he said.
He also noted that currently the sector is driven by lower level technology and individuals who are engaged in poultry do not have much demand for improved technology because of lack of awareness.
“Regarding this, the Association is inviting foreigner experts to give training here. It is also working with local universities and research institutes and sharing new technologies with them. And also the association is working with them regarding conducting more researches on the challenges members are facing,” he stated.
Genene added, the other effort is drawing experiences from foreign countries like Asian and other African countries that use almost the same technology with Ethiopia but that are more productive than Ethiopia. Members of the Association have also paid visits to the above mentioned countries and benefited from experiences.
He said, regarding production and consumption, the nation is still not on the right track. But there is hope that the demand for chicken products is getting high day by day. Through time peoples eating culture is changing and the need is developing, according to Genene.
“Nevertheless, the challenges are affecting the sector. Cost of meal resources for the biddy, working place, limitation of foreign currency are among the challenges. It can offer jobs for millions and the government should understand and give emphasis to poultry,” he stressed.
Tsigereda Fikadu, poultry director within the Ministry of Agriculture also told to The Ethiopian Herald that the government is doing its level best to engage the private sector in poultry.
She said it is encouraging them by supplying tax-free resources. “Preparing different packages, it is opening the sector for more job opportunities. The country is also working cooperatively with other countries to develop the sector,” she added As to her, from all livestock sector, it has attached focal attention for the poultry sector especially on the small scale level because it is also a solution for malnutrition problem in the country.
Indeed there are challenges men engaged in poultry facing, but the government is working better than before to bring more solutions, she said.
Tsigereda stated, for the future a strategy will be set which supports private investors to engage more in the sector. Technical and economic support is being given for job creators in the sector, she said.
The Ethiopian Herald September 1/2019
BY GENET FEKADE
