Dutch Firm Keen to Empower Livestock Owners in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA – A Dutch firm, Pikoline/Schippers Group is keen to empower livestock owners in Ethiopia – a country with more than 160 million heads of livestock population.
The company, which was founded in 1966, currently operates in more than 40 countries across the world in developing knowledge, services, and products to improve hygiene in livestock farms.
The group now aims to empower Ethiopian farmers In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture under a “Livestock Power Ethiopia Project”.
Jeroen A. Beijer, a Commercial Director of the group met with Hirut Zemene, Ethiopia’s ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and EU Institutions, on Thursday to discuss the project.
Both sides exchanged ideas on the collaboration that the company has started with the Ministry of Agriculture in the Livestock sector, said the foreign ministry of Ethiopia.
Ambassador Hirut appreciated the company’s interest to engage in Ethiopia.
She further stated that this project would improve the trade efficiency of the sector especially by preventing contraband trade of live animals and helping small scale livestock owners.
Beijer, on his part, explained his company’s interest to empower livestock farmers in optimizing farm hygiene, create more efficient management of livestock.
The company also wants to improve financial inclusion of small-scale livestock owners, according to the commercial director.
Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa, with 65 million cattle, 40 million sheep, 51 million goats, 8 million camels and 49 million chickens in 2020, as per the Central Statistics Agency’s estimate.
