Ethiopia’s Livestock Export by Rail Promises Significant Economic Gains: Agriculture Ministry

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia's Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the country's first shipment of livestock by rail to export markets is expected to yield significant economic benefits and unlock vast potential within the sector, according to State Minister of Agriculture, Fikru Regassa.According to Ethiopian News Agency, the initiative aims to address long-standing challenges such as the lack of a proper regulatory system, the prevalence of illegal livestock trade, and inadequate holding facilities. The first-ever rail shipment of livestock from Adama to Djibouti marks a significant step towards overcoming these hurdles. The transportation method is expected to alleviate the burden on traditional methods, enhancing the quality and efficiency of livestock exports.State Minister Fikru emphasized the ministry's commitment to boosting livestock production and productivity, ensuring that Ethiopia fully capitalizes on its livestock resources. Despite the ongoing efforts, Fikru acknowledged that the progress t hus far remains insufficient. The ministry is actively pursuing initiatives to enhance livestock productivity and optimize resource utilization to address this shortfall.The expansion of rail transport for livestock export is perceived as a critical measure in tackling previous logistical challenges, including the quality deterioration of livestock during lengthy road transport. The rail initiative has been operational for the past two months, ensuring safe and efficient delivery of livestock to Djibouti without significant issues, Fikru noted.In the past, livestock transported by truck encountered numerous difficulties, such as exposure to extreme weather and quality degradation. The introduction of direct rail transport from Adama to Djibouti is expected to mitigate these problems, promising a transformative impact on the livestock export sector with higher quality and faster delivery to international markets.