Improvement of small-scale farmers’ living standard
- Sectors: Integrated livestock development, Support to the dairy sector, Breeding and genetic improvement
- Duration: 10/1995 – 12/2004
- Volume: 2.3 Mill. Euro
- Persons/ Months: 68
- Client: Austrian Development Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Vienna
- Partner: Department of Agriculture, Gondar
The project is implemented in 7 areas of the North Gondar Province, Amhara Region, and aims at the improvement of the living standard of small-scale farmers by means of increasing the productivity of their livestock and generating sustainable income.
Therefore, the approach of the project consists of taking measures to optimise livestock keeping, production and marketing of products.
Sustainable resource management through ecologically sound pasture and fodder production and the use of appropriate technologies are essential components.
Ecologically beneficial forage production has been combined with a small-scale fattening programme for cattle, sheep, and – to some extent – poultry.
The extension services are decentralised. Regularly trained extension teams promote intensified milk processing and marketing strategies of meat and milk products that should generate a regular income for the producers, and ease the environmental impact of the traditionally extensive animal keeping.
Measures to upgrade and expand basic rural animal health care and mobile veterinarian services are expected to gradually raise the standard of animal health.
Gender issues are an integral part of project planning and assessment, and close attention is paid to the considerable participation of female farmers in each related field of activities.
Project components:
- Improved fodder production and soil conservation, appropriate technologies,
- Improved genetic potential of indigenous ruminants,
- Ruminant health and disease control,
- Improved marketing of meat and milk products, cattle and sheep fattening, and milk processing,
- Diversification of small scale economic activities, especially for women: poultry production, beekeeping, agricultural byproducts.
The project works within and complementary to the extension system of the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture. It is executed in joint management. Project innovations are being integrated and applied, such as small scale rural credit management schemes, viable veterinary services for remote communities, and numerous technical innovations. In the follow-up phase, project activities are taken over by the beneficiaries, and services are handed over to the national extension system.