The Livestock Commercialization Program focuses on developing the huge potential of the Ethiopian livestock sector by leveraging the clustering approach of the ACC program which has realized a significant impact on improving production, productivity, and market linkages for prioritized crops. The program aims to address the significant and worsening undersupply of animal-sourced foods and to achieve improvements in farmers and pastoralists incomes, nutrition security, import substitution and forex availability through market-driven value-chain development approach. To achieve these strategic objectives, the following commodities have been prioritized, considering their potential impact: poultry (egg and meat), dairy, red meat and apiculture (honey and other hive products).
The program in collaboration with, the MoA and other stakeholders conducted various studies to prioritize and unlock systemic bottlenecks. It has developed various strategies, including the national livestock and fisheries extension strategy and roadmap, and the national livestock breeding strategy for prioritized commodities (dairy, beef, poultry, small ruminants). It also piloted innovative projects and interventions, such as the Integrated Apiculture Value Chain Development project and Livestock and Fisheries Farmers Field School Approach, and digitalization of market-oriented livestock and fisheries extension system through the 8028 Farmers Hotline. The program further jointly implements livestock and fisheries sector development project, supported by the MoA and the World Bank.
The program has designed various projects along the focus commodities and implemented them across different regions, including pastoral and agro-pastoral areas.