Name: Fufa Abunna
Career: Veterinarian, Researcher
Educational level: MSc
Position: Department Head
Birth place: Abunna Gindeberet
He earned Doctorate degree of Veterinary Medicine from Addis Ababa University in 1999. Then, he earned his MSc from Addis Ababa University in Veterinary Epidemiology in 2006. He was associate professor at Hawassa University. Currently, he is department head, of clinical studies College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture at Addis Ababa University.
In addition, he had conducted more than seventy five problems-solving researches and presented papers in many international conferences. Dr. Fufa is among the professionals who served the country in different capacities across the country.
Currently, Dr.Fufa is associate professor at Addis Ababa University. So far, he has got more than 70 research papers published on international journals.
The Ethiopian herald had a time of while with Dr. Fufa Abunna
The Ethiopian Herald: Could you give us the back drop of the National Veterinary institution?
Dr. Fufa Abunna: Currently, the institution is called College of Veterinary and Agriculture. Fifty years back, it was established by the then emperor Haile Selassie as a School of Animal Health technicians or Animal Health Assistants at a Diploma level.
Then, in 1979, it was upgraded to DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) program. The institution is the pioneer veterinary institution in the country. It was established with more than three missions.
The first mission was teaching and learning. Currently, we have different programs. For instance, we train vet lab technologists at BA level, DVM program and PhD program. We do have eight different MSc and four Ph.D programs.
The second is conducting researches. Our institution has conducted several researches to solve the problems in the country. As institution, we have solved several problems through our research findings.
In addition, the institution delivers community service in different parts of the country.
Herald: Tell us about Ethiopia’s livestock wealth and their contribution to food, Skin, and transportation?
Dr. Fufa: Regarding the figure Ethiopia is first in Africa and tenth in the world. But when we come to the productivity we are the bottom of the level. We are not mentioned even on the list of Africa let alone the world. The productivity is very poor due to different factors like feed, disease, and livestock policies.
Even if, we are atop the size list of Africa, the productivity is under a question mark. The point is not boasting a huge figure but working on the qualities and productivity.
Currently, the country is facing drought due to climate change. In addition, shortage of pasture land is also one of the problems the sector is facing. Our farmers are only counting the number but the productivity is minimal. The best issue is focusing on productivity.
Moreover, we better keep the sector abreast with modern ways such as on how to increase the productivity. According to the 2012 report, the livestock sector contributed 19% to the GDP of the country. Twenty percent of foreign exchange was earned from the sector.
For subsistence most Ethiopians depend on their livestock because more than 80% country’s population resides in the countryside. They use as their meal and income sources.
They run their lives by putting on market the products of livestock like milk, butter, egg, meat, skin and among others. So, livestock is the economic base of most population of the country.
In general, it is decisive for about 85% of country’s population.
Herald: Has the country benefited from the sector to the expected level?
Dr. Fufa: My answer is no for several reasons. The first reason is viral and bacterial animal diseases. Due to this, we are not able to export our products even to the Middle East countries. They don’t allow exporters get into their market with diseased animals. Some six or seven years ago we use to export meat to Egypt. But because of such disease export was slackening. As such the country is not deriving benefits to the expected level.
The second reason is black market, which is manifest across the country. If you look at Moyale, Metemma, Somali, Afar, among others, contrabandists are driving livestock to the neighboring countries due to the absence of livestock movement policies. That curtails the tax the country gets.
They heads of cattle are let to go without any value addition. As a result, the country is losing huge amount of foreign exchange.
The third reason is related to pasture. Though we do have a large size of cattle, we don’t have a feed that match with the number. This is one of the reasons our livestock is exposed to different diseases. That reduces the quality and the quantity of the livestock. These and other issues are posing challenges to the sector which made the country not to be benefit to the expected level.
Herald: What is the role of your institution played in solving the problem at hand?
Dr. Fufa: We are training veterinarians and conducting problem-solving researches particularly in the area of livestock diseases, production, and productivity. Personally, I did conduct researches on the food safety and food security. Especially, I have been conducting several researches on milk, feed, and fish.
There are several problems starting from the farmlands to restaurants.
Most of our researches are focusing on the diseases. We are trying to minimize the harm in this regard. In addition, we are working on poultry industries, among others.
Herald: What challenges did you encounter in discharging your professional duties?
Dr. Fufa: Since we conduct several researches, financial constraint is the main challenge. Thanks to Addis Ababa University it allocates some budget for researches though it is modest. The other one is equipment. Though we have embarked on the twenty first century, still, we are using outmoded equipment. Also, there is a lack of reagent chemicals.
Finally, In order to conduct a problem solving research peace is very important. Currently, we are facing peace-related problems which are dangerous and disgraceful. The new prime minister is working his best. So, we have to stand by the architect of this change. In the presence of peace, things are going to be solved easily. So, we have to give priority to peace and pray for all.
Herald: What should be done to make the country benefit from the sector?
Dr. Fufa: Well, the government is doing its best to make the country benefit from the sector by developing a livestock development master plan. But what I want to suggest is, if the country has to benefit from the sector, there should be livestock policies.
Particularly, on the animal movement things must be brought under control. That can help to minimize the black market trade on the border area.
The other issue is the issue of animal welfare. How we treat animals in the country is antediluvian. We keep lot of heads of cattle packed in a small and inconvenient area. But we can change the trend to a huge productivity with small number of cattle.
In addition, we have to think of genetic issues. The productivity of our breeds is very minimal. So, we have to shift from quantity to quality and productivity. We have to train our farmers and pastoralists. They do not have to look after a gargantuan number of cattle without getting as much benefits. The number should be downsized. Qualities and productivity must take the center stage.
Lastly, feed has to get more attention. We have to upgrade livestock nutrition if we are to derive benefits from productiveness.
Herald: What plans do you have down the road?
Dr. Fufa: We are striving to produce competent graduates. In addition, we are really working on conducting problem-solving researches on the productivity of the livestock. We are also committed towards rendering community services. We have different community service centers. We would like to continue our contribution in consulting and training our farmers and pastoralists.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition August4/ 2019
BY AMBO MEKASA
