ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia has replicated the success of its wheat production and Green Legacy initiatives in the Bounty of the Basket program, according to the Minister of Agriculture.
Agriculture Minister Girma Amente(PhD) made this remark while laying the cornerstone for the construction of a 200-million-Birr National Holistic Milk Development Center in Holota Town.
He noted that the country has achieved promising results in the Bounty of the Basket program over the past two years. In the last eight months alone, poultry farming, beekeeping, and small-scale fish farming have shown remarkable progress.
These subsectors were identified due to their high potential for job creation, import substitution, and export expansion, among other factors.
“Most agricultural initiatives are designed to address major challenges in the value chain. Before the launch of the Bounty of the Basket project, only 300,000 to 500,000 artificial inseminations were conducted annually due to a shortage of centers for species preparation and liquid nitrogen. However, around ten liquid nitrogen centers have now been commissioned across different states,” he emphasized.
Beyond improved species and liquid nitrogen availability, the sector requires skilled and qualified artificial insemination professionals—an area where Ethiopia has historically faced a shortage. According to the minister, the country currently needs over 20,000 technicians in this field.
The new center will play a crucial role in addressing this skills gap while contributing to the growth of the dairy sector. It will not only serve as a center of excellence but also empower model farmers through training programs.
The Livestock Development Institute Director-General Asrat Tira(PhD) underscored that enhancing the capacity of artificial insemination technicians is essential for the success of the Bounty of the Basket initiative. The institute recently graduated 156 artificial insemination technicians in its 57th graduation program.
Additionally, the center, which is expected to be completed within a year, will be instrumental in leading the milk value chain through knowledge and skill development. It will accommodate around 250 technicians and will feature dormitories, training facilities, and classrooms, among other essential infrastructure.
With support from the World Bank, the institute has also completed the reconstruction and restoration of a facility that can accommodate approximately 250 cows at a time under the Animal and Fish Sector Development Project.
The institute has undertaken extensive efforts to align with the nation’s ten-year strategic plan focused on improving animal species and processing animal products. The newly established center, a first of its kind, is expected to be pivotal in training skilled and qualified technicians.
The World Bank Team Technical Leader Illoti Magheyi stated that the center will lay a strong foundation for Ethiopia’s dairy sector. He reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the initiative and urged the effective and efficient use of resources.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 30 MARCH 2025
