Addis Ababa, March 10, 2025 (ENA)— Ethiopia's dairy sector has seen transformative growth, with milk production doubling to 12 billion liters and crossbred cattle numbers rising eight fold in three years under the "Bounty of the Basket" (Yelemat Tirufat) initiative. This achievement highlights the country’s ongoing efforts to boost food security, improve smallholder farmers' livelihoods, and drive agricultural productivity, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Ethiopia's State Minister of Agriculture Fikru Regassa said the significant progress of "Bounty of the Basket", while emphasizing ongoing efforts to address challenges like animal feed shortages and infrastructure development. Since its launch, the initiative has led to substantial growth in dairy production, largely due to targeted crossbreeding programs and improved agricultural practices, which operate across four major agricultural clusters. Most importantly, "Bounty of the Basket" initiative has significantly increased both the number of high-yield dairy animals and overall milk production, the state minister added. According to the state minister, before the launch of the initiative, we can just look at the number of crossbreed animals that we were doing every year. It was about 500,000 animals that were crossed per year. And in the first year of the "Bounty of the Basket", it's 1.2 million animals, which is double. In the second year, we planned 2.4 million, and we succeeded. And this year, the third year of the initiative, we planned 3.8 million animals to be crossbred, and we are now at 2 million. As part of the initiative, Ethiopia’s annual milk production has nearly doubled, climbing from 5.8 billion liters to a projected 12 billion liters, demonstrating the impact of improved breeding techniques, better feed availability, and farmer capacity-building efforts, he elaborated. This surge in production is attributed to better breeding techniques, improved feed availability, and comprehensive capacity-building efforts for farmers. The state minister also emphasized that to sustain this rapid expansion, Ethiopia has invested heavily in infrastructure and technological advancements, pointing that one key development has been the establishment of local liquid nitrogen production facilities, crucial for artificial insemination programs. Ethiopia has acquired five new processing units, with two already operational and three more in the installation phase, ensuring a reliable supply for nationwide crossbreeding activities and by the end of this year, the total number of liquid nitrogen plants will reach 10, he stated. The initiative also aims to strengthen milk processing and distribution. Farmers are being integrated into cooperatives and unions to enhance market participation. Local processing plants have been established to produce dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and butter, while larger-scale processing facilities in cities such as Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Awassa support broader distribution networks. New plants have been set up in strategic locations such as Gondar, Bahir Dar, and Jigjiga, reducing reliance on centralized supply hubs and cutting transportation costs. The state minister noted, “We are ensuring that farmers have access to affordable, high-quality animal feed in all regions, which is crucial for sustaining milk production and supporting the growing population of crossbred cattle.” With increased milk availability, dairy consumption has risen, contributing to the fight against malnutrition and childhood stunting. "Households now have access to nutritious dairy products such as milk and eggs, significantly improving their dietary intake,” he added. Empowering cooperatives and unions is crucial for local producers to drive industry growth," stated the state minister. "We prioritize foreign investment alongside ensuring our farmers have the tools to expand their contributions." The success of the "Bounty of the Basket" (Yelemat Tirufat) initiative is revolutionizing Ethiopia's dairy sector, establishing a robust foundation for sustainable agricultural development. Through strategic partnerships, infrastructure enhancements, and innovative policies, Ethiopia is making significant strides towards food security and economic prosperity, serving as a model for agricultural transformation in Africa, he emphasized. To accelerate dairy sector growth, a high-level workshop convened today at ILRI in Addis Ababa where stakeholders, policymakers, researchers, and private sector leaders collaborated to develop a unified national strategy. ILRI Senior Scientist Gebregziabher Gebreyohanes highlighted the forum's goal was to foster synergies among sector institutions.   According to the scientist, this board would provide crucial oversight and strategic direction, ensuring sector stability and expansion. Gebregziabher also emphasized ILRI's ongoing partnership with the government to enhance dairy quality across all indicators.

Addis Ababa, March 8, 2025 (ENA)—A six-month national pollution prevention campaign will be launched in the near future, Director General of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Lelise Neme announced. Lelise told ENA that protecting the environment requires collective action across all sections of the society. The second anti-pollution campaign will be held under the theme: "Making cleaning and greening Ethiopia a culture", the director general added. The campaign intends to raise public awareness on various environmental pollution types and necessary proactive prevention measures. She emphasized the significance of awareness raising initiatives to empower the public in identifying and preventing pollution. The director general added that both producers and consumers of recyclable plastics should enforce laws on plastic pollution. She stressed the importance of educating all segments of the society and institutions on proper disposal practices for solid and hazardous waste. Expressing the strict enforcement of laws requiring environmental and social impact assessments for all government and private projects, she stated that non-compliance with these regulations will result in legal consequences. According to the director general, future projects will set priorities for community health and environmental safety, Lelise stated.

Addis Ababa, March 3,2025 (ENA) ----Ethiopia has pledged to take a leading role in global wildlife conservation, urging international collaboration for the mutual benefit of wildlife and communities, according to the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) . EWCA marked World Wildlife Day and its 60th anniversary with events, including a tour at the Gullele Botanic Garden, showcasing its diverse endemic species. The day featured a tour of the Gullele Botanic Garden, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including several endemic species from both plant and animal kingdoms. Following the tour, a discussion was held on the importance of conservation. The observance took place under the theme "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet," which highlighted the critical connection between ecosystem health and community well-being. Kumara Wakijira, EWCA Director General, emphasized the significance of the day in raising awareness about wildlife conservation. He acknowledged that while Ethiopia has made notable progress in preserving its wildlife resources, additional investment is necessary to tackle the increasing pressures on ecosystems and biodiversity. “The future of Ethiopia’s wildlife, and the health of our planet, depends on our collective ability to finance sustainable conservation efforts that can withstand the challenges of the coming decades,” said Kumara. He also pointed out that securing adequate financing remains one of the main challenges in wildlife conservation. To address this, he noted that EWCA is working closely with both local and international partners to ensure sustainable financial support for these efforts. Tourism State Minister Endegena Abebe, in his remarks, stated that wildlife conservation is inseparable from economic development and cultural diversity. "It is our duty to safeguard these treasures, not just for their intrinsic value but for the countless opportunities they offer for sustainable development," he said. Endegena called for collective action from both local and international partners to support the conservation of Ethiopia’s ecosystems and wildlife. The event aimed to explore how Ethiopia, in collaboration with the global community, can enhance financing for wildlife conservation. It focused on innovative solutions that balance the conservation of wildlife with sustainable development.   The celebration also underscored the need for a unified effort from government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, local communities, and individuals to increase investment in wildlife conservation. The observance of World Wildlife Day 2025 in Ethiopia was also described as a rallying cry for a global effort to secure a future where nature and humanity can thrive together.

Addis Ababa, February 26, 2025 (ENA)---The ecosystem services provided by vultures in the southern African region, including sanitation and pest control, are estimated at 1.8 billion USD annually, according to a report launched in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Tuesday. Compiled by BirdLife International, a conservation lobby, the report focuses on Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, emphasizing the role of vultures in maintaining ecological balance and promoting human health. The African continent is home to 11 species of vultures, with seven facing the risk of extinction and listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, according to the report. Africa's vulture population, says the report, plummeted by 80 to 97 percent over the last five decades, and the main threats facing these majestic birds include poisoning and electrocution, Xinhua reported. The report decries the widespread poisoning of vultures in southern Africa linked to cultural beliefs, with habitat destruction, climate change, and electrocution by high-voltage transmission lines threatening their survival. In 2019, mass poisoning led to the death of 500 critically endangered vultures in Botswana, the report notes, emphasizing that the iconic birds play a vital role in boosting tourism in the southern African region. The report warns that failure to protect vultures could lead to about 47 million USD losses to the region's economy annually, while conservation efforts could generate an estimated 30 million USD every year. Head of conservation in Africa at BirdLife International, Matthew Lewis said the decline of vultures on the continent is concerning. He emphasized the urgent need for key actors to step up their conservation efforts in the natural habitats and accrue myriad economic, health and ecological benefits for communities. "This groundbreaking study on the economic value of vultures in the southern African region is crucial in advancing conservation efforts," Lewis said. Preventing extinctions program manager at BirdLife Zimbabwe, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of indigenous bird species, Leeroy Moyo underscored the importance of policy advocacy, community-focused awareness campaigns, and innovative conservation strategies to secure a sustainable future for vultures.