ILRI recognized for contributing to Ethiopia’s livestock sector growth

The ILRI livestock master plan team (from left to right) Solomon Desta, Getachew Gebru, Barry Shapiro and Asfaw Negassa (photo credit: ILRI/Apollo Habtamu).

The Ethiopia Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF) held a first-ever National Livestock Week from 13-19 November 2017 in Addis Ababa. The event, under the theme ‘Livestock and fishery resources for Ethiopian renaissance’, was marked with panel discussions, exhibitions, and recognition of individuals and institutions that have contributed to the growth and transformation of livestock and fisheries in the country.

President Mulatu Teshome of Ethiopia and Fekadu Beyene, Ethiopia’s minister for livestock and fisheries, addressed participants. Beyene said the four-day event brought together key players in the sector to share and exchange knowledge and will in future be used as a platform for deliberating on the major challenges in the sector.

Institutions and individuals working in the sector were recognized and were presented with certificates and trophies by President Teshome.

President Mulatu Teshome presents a certificate to ILRI director general’s representative in Ethiopia Boni Moyo (photo credit: ILRI/Apollo Habtamu).

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) was recognized for its work in livestock development in the country. Barry Shapiro, a program development specialist at ILRI, and the livestock master plan (LMP) team at ILRI which includes Getachew Gebru, Asfaw Negassa and Solomon Desta were recognized for their contribution in the development of the livestock and fisheries sector, in particular for their work in the Ethiopia livestock sector analysis, and the development of the Ethiopian LMP.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Vision and the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation were among other institutions honoured.

The president stressed on the need for a continuous and concerted effort to fully utilize the livestock and fisheries resources for the economic development of the country.

ILRI-led projects including the African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG), the Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES), the Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI), Africa RISING, N2Africa and ILRI’s genebank exhibited at the event.

The National Livestock Week was organized by the MoLF in partnership with USAID, SNV, UNDP, and FAO. Pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, researchers, small-scale business enterprises, processors, and representatives of federal and regional government and civil societies attended the event.