The Indian food company, Allanasons Ltd., announced it is set to invest USD $ 20 Million on a meat processing plant in Ethiopia. Allanasons is motivated by the existence of a large population of naturally fed cattle and sheep.

According to the Ethiopian operations head, Aman Khan, Allanasons has secured land in Adami Tulu, Oromia State, which it intends to build a facility where it will produce 70 metric tons of meat products every day.

Khan noted Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa and the global meat proteins demand is increasing. “…so we feel it is the right decision to invest in the livestock sector here,” he said.

According to the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency, Ethiopia has an estimated livestock population of 49 million cattle, 25 million sheep and almost 22 million goats, which directly makes a 15 to 17 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

Khan commented veterinary and feeding practices should be improved. He also noted the absence of growth hormones and antibiotics present major concern for the industry is an advantage.

He further makes suggestions to improve the nation’s competitiveness; address skilled labor shortages and poor transport infrastructure and cold chain systems. He added, “We feel that the government should consider supporting the meat industry in a more dynamic way considering the stiff competition”.

Source: Bloomberg