Collaborative Efforts Underway to Establish Livestock Fattening, Processing Centers for Export

Addis Ababa November 22/2024 (ENA)The Ethiopian Agriculture Authority has announced collaborative efforts to establish cattle rearing and fattening centers for livestock exporters to enhance the quality and quantity of meat exported to international markets. 

These initiatives aim to supplement the regular market by enabling exporters to develop their own facilities for livestock rearing and meat processing.

A recent field visit near Adama highlighted the progress made in setting up fattening centers, with the Authority providing capacity-building training to stakeholders involved in the sector. 

 

This training focuses on meeting export standards and addressing the demands of international markets, particularly in the Middle East.

Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Agriculture Authority, Hamid Jemal, emphasized that increasing the volume of export meat contributes significantly to the country's revenue from livestock resources. 

He further highlighted that the initiative ensures that Ethiopian meat meets the specific requirements of destination countries, enhancing market acceptance and competitiveness.

Out of the 11 licensed meat exporters currently operating, two companies have already established their own processing and fattening centers. These facilities enable them to prepare livestock in the required numbers and weights for export. This approach has been identified as a best practice to be scaled up across the industry, he said.

 

The Authority's Director of Livestock Product Quality Control, Ayalew Shumet, pointed out that the primary objective of the ongoing efforts is to improve the quality and efficiency of meat exports. With the global demand for sheep, goats, camels, and cattle on the rise, Ethiopia aims to position itself as a reliable supplier by ensuring its products meet international standards.

The initiative also contributes to reducing illegal livestock trade, creating an enabling environment for macroeconomic stability. 

Stakeholders in the livestock export sector have been urged to seize this opportunity to operate at their full potential and support the country's broader economic goals.