Ethiopia Focused on Improving Animal Health, Food Security: DPM Temesgen

Addis Ababa, February 5, 2025 (ENA) --- Ethiopia has been giving attention to agriculture, particularly to the improvement of animal health, food security and safety, since the beginning of the national reform, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh said.

The 26th Conference of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Regional Commission for Africa Conference kicked off in Addis Ababa.

The conference will take place from 4-7 Feb, 2025 under the theme "Animal Health for Food Security and Public Health in Africa." 

Opening the conference, Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh said that Africa has not yet achieved food security despite a large livestock population.

Even if the population of Ethiopia depends on agriculture and the country has the largest livestock population in Africa, it has not benefited much.

Animal diseases and related problems have in particular been hindering the benefits of the sector, he added.

However, the government has been focusing on the agricultural sector, particularly on livestock development, food security and safety since the national reform, Temesgen noted.

He added that a lot of work has been done to expand animal treatment, vaccination, meat quality disease control, expansion of animal quarantines, and animal testing centers.

 

In view of the rapidly growing population, a corresponding growth in agricultural production is needed, the deputy prime minister said, adding that the government has focused on modern animal treatment in its Homegrown Economic Reform.

The Bounty of the Basket (Yelemat Trufat) Initiative has been implemented in Ethiopia to bring about a radical change and ensure food and nutrition security.

Yelemat Trufat program aims to increase the production of meat, milk, chicken, eggs, honey and fish to bring about abundant food production and a balanced diet, he elaborated.

According to him, the government is giving attention to animal health in order to achieve the goals of the program

Temesgen stated that in this regard Ethiopia has designed a policy and strategy to prevent animal diseases in a sustainable manner.

The provision of strong animal health institutions, qualified human resource and infrastructure is being carried out every year, he said.

As a continent, we have a lot of work to do since animal diseases have a changing and complex nature and are transboundary, the deputy premier stressed.

Therefore, he said it is vital for countries and international institutions to work together and be guided by principles to improve animal disease control and prevention capacity.

 

Temesgen stressed that Ethiopia will play its part in achieving the national, regional and global goals set for animal health and welfare, sector productivity, and food security.

Participants of the conference will discuss on Prevention and Control of animal diseases in Africa, as well as facilitating dialogues that aim to create disease-free countries.

Global organizations working on food and nutrition will also share various ideas and solutions, highlighting the importance of public health and animal health and their interconnections.