Addis Ababa, October 14, 2022 (FBC) – Ethiopian Cooperative Commission and different ministries established a national task force, called Ethiopian Pastoralist Development Forum, to deflect the challenges of livestock development and marketing in pastoral and semi-pastoral areas.
Oumer Hussein, Minister of Agriculture, who delivered a message at the unveiling of the forum, said, “We, the stakeholders, gathered here, need to collaborate to solve the multifaceted contraints related to animal resource development in pastoral and semi-pastoral areas.”
“I would like to thank the commission for being able to establish such a useful forum for the country under the coordination of the Ethiopian Cooperative Commission”, he added.
The institutions that established the forum are expected to implement modern animal husbandry, create a strong market connection, strengthen animal health services, prevent illegal livestock trade and smuggling, and facilitate financial resources to support the sector.
According to the Commission, in Ethiopia, there are 220 woredas renowned for pastoralism and semi-pastoralism, especially Afar, Somali, Oromia, South, Southwest, Gambella and Benshangul Gumuz regions.
The Main Task Force (Forum) is going to be chaired by the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland Areas, whereas Ministry of Agriculture will be deputy chair and Ethiopian Cooperative Commission itself will be secretary.
Other Ministries, such as Trade and Regional Integration, Water and Energy, Health, Education, Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority, Federal Police Commission, National Bank of Ethiopia, and development partners are members of the forum.