Livestock "master plan" in the works

Ethiopia is drawing up a livestock “master plan” funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) to help combat food shortages, officials said on Friday. The mammoth project, financed to the tune of US $3.35 million, will focus on potential investment projects in the country. Ethiopia is the biggest livestock producer in Africa and 25th worldwide, possessing 35 million head of cattle, 18 million goats and 24 million sheep. And livestock is crucial for the Ethiopian economy. It accounts for some 20 percent of the total GDP and employs about 31 percent of the agricultural labour force. The study involves the collection of key data on technical, social, institutional, political, environmental and economic issues. It also follows one of world’s largest animal surveys which was carried out in the country to count all the animals as part of a massive census. According to the Livestock Marketing Authority (LMA), Ethiopia is losing about US $100 million annually from illegal trading in live animals across its borders. “The project aims to enhance significantly the contribution of livestock to the rural and national economy,” the ADB said in a statement. “It will involve the preparation of a comprehensive livestock development master plan that will cover an investment period of 20 years.” The ADB said the project would also “embrace” the dairy and meat sector for possible future funding. The ADB is one of the largest donors in Ethiopia – working in the country since 1974. So far it has committed a total of nearly US $1.4 billion.