Policy Perspective on Productivity Needs for Livestock Biotechnology in Ethiopia

Kebede, B. 2001. Policy Perspective on Productivity Needs for Livestock Biotechnology in Ethiopia. International Service for National Agricultural Research

Although the statistics available on the actual size are outdated and inconsistent, there is no doubt that Ethiopia has a huge livestock population. The ruminant livestock population is the largest in Africa and among the top 10 in the world. Livestock accounts for an estimated 16% of the total GDP and about 30% of the agricultural GDP. It plays a key role in the overall farming system, serving as a source of draught power for cultivating an estimated 6 million hectares of crop land annually. It also provides milk, meat, manure, hides and skins as well as a source of cash for the 85% of the population that live in the rural areas.