Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture to establish livestock collection centers

ETHIOPIA – The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has announced the establishment of 18 livestock collection centers in Ethiopia, targeting nine clusters in pastoralist and semi-pastoralist regions. 

The move is part of an effort to strengthen the country’s livestock market. 

The new facilities will be located in key areas, including three clusters in Oromia and Somali, one in Afar, and two in the Southern and South West states.

Jemal Aliye, the Program Manager for the De-Risking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies in the Horn of Africa Project (DRIVE), explained that each cluster will be equipped with two collection centers. 

These centers will offer services such as watering, feeding, and resting areas for livestock, aiming to improve conditions for pastoralist cooperatives and facilitate easier access to markets.

In addition to the collection centers, the government plans to address health concerns affecting the livestock industry. 

As part of this initiative, US$3 million will be allocated for the importation of laboratory equipment, and specialists will be trained to ensure international standards are met. 

The Ministry is also working on evaluating and upgrading existing livestock laboratories to align with global market requirements.

Ethiopia currently has five livestock quarantine centers, which play a key role in the sector, but there are discussions about expanding this network further. 

These measures are expected to contribute to the growth of the livestock industry, which is essential to the country’s economy. The sector accounts for 90% of Ethiopia’s livestock export revenue.

Livestock contributes 12% to Ethiopia’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 33% to its agricultural GDP. 

It is also a key source of income for 65% of the population. The sector generates 12–15% of the country’s export earnings, making it the second-largest source of foreign revenue. 

According to the Central Statistical Authority (CSA), Ethiopia’s highlands are home to 35.1 million cattle, 12.2 million sheep, and 9.5 million goats.

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