USAID and Government of Ethiopia Inaugurate Livestock Market Facilities in Teltele and Harobake

April 13, 2007
No. 22/07

Addis Ababa (US Embassy) April 13, 2007 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Ethiopia inaugurated the first livestock market facilities built under the Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) project.  The Teltele and Harobake market facilities in the Borena Zone of Oromia Region represent a vital link in a value-chain that will improve performance in the livestock sector and lead to increased economic benefits for pastoralists.

H.E. Habtamu Teka, Commissioner of the Oromia Pastoralist Area Development Commission, Ms. Brutawit Dawit Abdi, ACDI/VOCA Country Representative for Ethiopia and Mr. John Stamm, Deputy Chief of the Business Environment, Agriculture and Trade Office of USAID, participated in the inauguration ceremony.  Pastoralist clan elders, livestock traders, and local government representatives were also in attendance.

“The Teltele and Harobake livestock markets are the first in a series of markets to be built with USAID support, and will make a difference in the lives of pastoralists,” said Ms. Brutawit Dawit Abdi. ACDI/VOCA is an international development organization which has been working in Ethiopia since 1994 to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and pastoralists by enhancing market opportunities.

In October 2005, USAID launched the PLI in Somali, Afar and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia to reduce poverty, build food security, and reduce vulnerability to drought in pastoralist communities.  Through this initiative pastoralists who depend on livestock for their livelihoods are improving their preparedness for drought, enhancing the productivity of their livestock, and increasing incomes.  The livestock marketing component of PLI, implemented by ACDI/VOCA, seeks to transform pastoralist livestock markets in Ethiopia by increasing sales to high-value domestic and export markets.  An essential part of this effort is the construction and/or upgrading of key livestock market facilities to reduce costs and improve pastoralists’ access to markets.
 
There are 25 market sites to be constructed under the ACDI-VOCA component, the first of which are in Teltele and Harobake.  The total PLI project is worth US$ 29 million over 2 years.  The ACDI-VOCA project is valued at US$ 7.5 million over two years.  The construction cost of the Teltele facility is approximately $130,000 and for Harobake nearly $175,000. These facilities will boost pastoralists’ livelihoods by providing integrated services such as water, feed and veterinary services.  In the short term, these services will increase immediate returns to pastoralists.  For instance, pastoralist can boost their bargaining power by providing the option of holding their animals until the next market day to obtain a higher price.  In the medium and long term, market improvements will increase Ethiopia’s competitiveness in international livestock and meat markets, thereby increasing demand and further benefiting pastoralist communities.

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