USAID Launches Camel Milk Value Chain Development Project

Written by Meraf Leykun

The U.S. government has launched the Camel Milk Value Chain Development Project in Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, according to a statement the Embassy sent to Ethiopian News Agency on Thursday, the new project will support up to 50,000 small-holder livestock keepers. The project is launched as part of the U.S. President's Feed the Future Initiative in Ethiopia through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project will improve the entire value chain of camel milk production, from the camels to the arrival at the markets, according to the statement. To increase camel productivity, the project will focus on breed development, improved animal feed and fodder, and animal health service delivery. The project will give special focus to building the capacity of community animal health workers to diagnose and treat camel diseases.

USAID Ethiopia Mission Director Dennis Weller also said Ethiopia has a good chance of becoming a leader in promoting camel production as a key to pastoralist livelihood security and development, according to the statement.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency