The Ethiopian Society of Animal Production recognizes country’s ongoing dairy sector transformation at 29th annual conference

ILRI News
Posted on
by

The Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) organized its 29th annual conference from 28 – 30 October 2021 in Addis Ababa to mark the progress of dairy sector transformation in Ethiopia. The event featured an exhibition of animal products and technologies.

Fikru Regassa, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Agriculture, opened the conference. The Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, HE Henk Jan Bakker; Tadelle Dessie, principal scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and ESAP’s President, Daniel Temesgen, also addressed participants.

In his keynote address, Dessie, highlighted the role of the Ethiopia livestock master plan in setting the projections of the livestock sector in the country. He spoke of the many opportunities in livestock development that are being and could be exploited by livestock sector stakeholders in partnership with ILRI to achieve greater livestock productivity gains in Ethiopia. These opportunities include the significant increase in domestic demand for livestock products, the availability of an export market to African and the Gulf countries, and an enabling policy environment.

More than 30 research papers were presented for the panel discussion session. ILRI’s Gebregziabher Gebreyohanes was among the panellists and made a presentation on the application of information communication technology (ICT) tools and genomics for dairy cattle genetic improvement in Ethiopia. The presentation focused on ILRI’s African Dairy Genetic Gains (ADDG) project response to the challenges of smallholder farmers through innovative application of ICT and genomic technology.

At the conference, individuals and institutions that have contributed to ESAP’s successes were recognized. Siboniso Moyo, former ILRI director general’s representative in Ethiopia, was recognized for her ‘continuous support to ESAP’.

ESAP organized the conference in partnership with ILRI, the Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Wageningen University and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.

It was attended by ESAP members, and representatives of civil societies and development institutions in Ethiopia.