Ethiopia has reported to have gained US $82million in revenue from exporting milk and meat during the last fiscal year.
The Meat and Milk Industry Development Institute made the announcement and said that Ethiopia has exert utmost effort to scale up meat and milk productivity to well quench neighbouring countries’ rising demand. The neighbouring countries have been demanding mostly camel and goat milk.
Institute Deputy Director General, Sahilu Mulu said Ethiopia has taken the lead in terms of in livestock populationin Africa though the economic benefit out of of the sector is insignificant. Now, the Institute is working hard in collaboration with other stakeholders, especially with the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority to tackle the problem regarding quality.
Infrastructures development
He also pointed out that despite the availability of meat and milk production in every rural areas, it is difficult to bring it to central markets due to poor infrastructures, in return which caused the rise in price of milk and meat in the country. However, there’s a bright future as the government has attached due emphasis to infrastructures development.
Sahilu also noted that despite its largest livestock resource, Ethiopia used to import meat for consumption of luxury hotels and lodges. However, with the support of Ethiopian airlines material and technical assistance, beyond hotels’ consumption the country has been exporting tons of good quality meat.
The institute has planned to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders particularly in cultivating sufficient fodders thereby maximizing milk and meat production.
