Ethiopia intends to shift exports from livestock to processed meat
Ethiopia could ban the live goat and sheep exports, according to 2merkato magazine. The Meat and Dairy Industry Development Institute is drafting a proclamation to prohibit live goat and sheep exports with a view to encouraging exports of processed meat and ensuring quality. The proclamation is expected to be enacted by the end of this fiscal year.
Haileselassie Weres, Director of Meat and Dairy Industry Development Institute intends to present the draft to the ministries of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Industry and Trade, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Association and the Livestock Exporters for reviews before sending it to the Parliament.
Last year, livestock exports generated $192.7 million, well below the target of $350 million set by the government. The main destinations for the Ethiopian livestock were Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and some North African states.
Such a move will encourage local companies to invest in the meat processing sector and it will generate added value for the industry, believes Fikadu Getachew, Director of Livestock Marketing at the Ministry.
The livestock business in Ethiopia contributes about 16.5% of overall GDP. Within the agricultural portion of GDP, livestock constitutes 35.6%. The contribution of livestock to the overall export earnings of the nation is 15%, and livestock constitutes 30% of all employment in the agricultural sector.
Ethiopia leads Africa in livestock resources and ranks fifth in the world with 59.5 million cattle, 30.7 million sheep, 30.2 million goats and one million camels. The country has 12 companies specialized in processing meat and 14 abattoirs that are allowed to export.
(Photo source: Flickr/Oxfam East Africa)
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