Gash-Barka Region is referred to as Mesob-Edlat in Tigrinya, meaning “the Basket of Opportunities.” This term justifiably depicts the administrative region’s diverse resources and potential for multi-sectorial development. About agriculture alone, this region is endowed with a massive area of land for both crop and forage production, coupled with a suitable environment for livestock development. The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)’s Public Relations Division has conducted a brief interview with Dr. TeklezghiTekie, Head of the Livestock Development Branch in the Regional Administration of Gash-Barka, concerning the status of dairy development in the region.
Q: Can you give us some statistical facts concerning the Gash-Barka Region’slivestock potential?
A: Gash-Barka is a region with a great endowment of vast grazing areas and pastoral practice. It covers 40% of the country’s total area and 80% of its inhabitants depend on agriculture. Around one million bovines, more than three million caprines, 110 thousand camels, and 150 thousand equines have been registered in our administrative region.
Q: What is the quality and outreach of veterinary services in the region?
A: Out of the entire professionals in our branch office, 60 are veterinary practitioners. They are working on a total of 25 clinics across the region. Gash-Barka is much more prone to infectious animal diseases, as there is a high mobility of animals within the region. To tackle the risks of disease outbreaks, our veterinary officers are engaged in continued surveillance and follow-up activities. Under this proactive measure, instances of major animal diseases are on the decline.
To ensure that our preventive approach is effective, we prioritize the most serious diseases such as PPR, Anthrax, Brucellosis, Rabies, etc. Clinic-based services are rendered regularly. For example, such service was given to a total of 290 thousand animals last year, while more than 330 thousand were vaccinated. Disease outbreak surveillance activities are constantly undertaken.
Q: Please tell us about ongoing forage production activities.
A: The size of grazing land in the Gash-Barka region totals more than 2 million hectares. In addition to the highest number of livestock, the region witnesses seasonal migration of herds from the neighboring administrative regions, namely, the Central, Anseba, and Southern regions. Rarely, do herds migrate from the Northern Red Sea Region to our region for foraging during instances of extreme drought.
The main sources of animal feed in our region are grazing areas. Recently, agriculture professionals who are working at a sub-zonal level were trained in community-based management of grazing areas. They have already shared the knowledge they have acquired with the concerned farmers. We are further working to ensure that every administrative area sets up an enclosure to conserve forage for dry times. Strict supervision, cultivation of grasses and shrubs, as well as soil and water conservation activities, must be carried out in these enclosures. So, 150 quintals of natural grass seeds have been planted in such enclosures in Akurdet, Dighe, Forto-Sawa, Haikota, Tesenei, Barentu, Goluj, Gogne, Shambuko and other sub-zones in areas where proper soil and water conservation techniques had been implemented.
Moreover, we increased our forage production efforts at our station in Akurdet. Supply of sweet potato and elephant grass seedlings was made on a pro bono basis in the sub-zones with irrigated forage farming potential. Farmers were given the necessary training before the distribution of these seedlings.
Equally worth mentioning is, our persistent engagement in awareness-raising activities concerning the need for forage storage for the dry season. There are several available forage varieties that farmers can consider for storage in our region.
The MoA also distributes concentrated animal feed as a contingency means of surviving times of extreme drought or locust harm in grazing areas. For instance, a total of 2 thousand quintals of high-energy rangeland pellets were distributed for free to farmers last year.
Q: What is the status of the Gash-Barka region’s water resource availability vis-à-vis dairy development?
A: For a long time, pastoralists were dependent on water wells due to a lack of water reservoirs. However, now five dams, 11 micro-dams, and 138 ponds have been constructed in our region, thanks to the government’s resolute initiative of watering points. Water resources from these reservoirs have made a positive impact on livestock development in general and dairy in particular.
Q: What specific interventions has the administrative region made about dairy development?
A: The majority of dairy farming practices in the Gash-Barka region lie under the extensive farming system. Since the indigenous breeds have their merits, we encourage farmers to maintain and upgrade their blood by selecting bulls for more productive offspring. Besides, we are advising semi-intensive dairy farmers to focus on forage production so that it can serve as a stepping stone to moving to an intensive farming system.
It is to be recalled that the MoA distributed several meritorious cattle and sheep in different sub-zones of our region to promote productive dairy farming programs. Part of this initiative involved the distribution of Butana Sudanese cattle to a total of 240 farmers in 2009. Women-led families were among these beneficiaries. Currently, the cattle have gone through 11 generations, in the case of the farmers who managed them properly. Based on the pre-condition of the distribution process, any beneficiary has the mandate to pass on one heifer to another farmer. Hence, through this system, more than 720 farmers have become beneficiaries of the scheme, and the total number of cattle stands at 2,640 at this point. The introduction of this breed has given rise to improvement of the performance and outcome. As a result, they made a positive impact in improving the livelihood of many families. However, more needs to be done to strengthen the outcome.
Meanwhile, milk collection and cooling facilities have already been put in place in Akurdet and Tesseney. They are due to be operational shortly. We have also a plan to set up such facilities, with smaller capacity, in Mekerka and Tekombia towns.
All I can say is that our region is a land of diverse potential for investment in the dairy sub-sector. The administrative region always welcomes nationals who intend to invest in this area.
Q: Has your division carried out any human resource capacity-building activity recently?
A: Regular training courses are organized at the regional level for the experts who are working for the Livestock Development Branch of our regional administration. These experts, on their part, engage themselves in awareness-raising activities, among target farmers at an administrative-area level. Hence, farmers were trained in the following areas of dairy production last year:
Community-based management of grazing areas
Management of forage farming (sweet potato and elephant grass)
Prevention of zoonotic diseases
Precautions and potential risks of animal disease infections across borders
Artificial insemination
Semi-intensive farm management
Likewise, we ensured that farmers, relevant government bodies, associations, and service providers took part in workshops that we conducted on anthrax, rabies, and brucellosis. Proper veterinary drug management and side effects of veterinary drugs were equally emphasized in the workshops. We have acquired substantial experience in organizing similar workshops in the future.
Thank you for your willingness to give this interview.
A: Thank you
Ministry of Agriculture
Public Relations Division
