Ethiopia has launched an initiative aimed at establishing commercially viable and sustainable forage markets specifically for dairy producers.

The project will be implemented across six regions of the country, with a primary focus on three key objectives: boosting the demand for climate-smart forage among small-scale producers, increasing the local supply of nutrient-rich climate-smart forage, and strengthening the supportive environment for forage market development.

This collaborative project involves the active participation of various organizations, including the Livestock Development Institute, Corteva Agriscience, Forage Genetics International, the International Livestock Research Institute, and local partners of the Nourishing Prosperity Alliance (NPA). It has received funding support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Land O'Lakes Venture 37.

Aligned with the Ethiopian government's Yelemat Tirufat initiative, which seeks to revolutionize the country's agriculture sector, this project has garnered assurance of support from the Ministry of Agriculture through its local partner institutions.

Spanning a duration of five years, the project holds tremendous potential to significantly enhance the productivity of dairy animals in Ethiopia. This, in turn, will lead to a substantial increase in milk production, benefiting both dairy producers and consumers across the nation.

Source (including image): Ethiopian News Agency