The contribution of livestock to the sustainability of agricultural income in Ethiopia: review of technology and policy issues
1999
Simeon K. Ehui (ILRI, Addis Abeba (ethiopia)) | Nega Gebreselassie
Despite the rapidy growing population and the enormous constraints to production, the country has potential to attain food security. Empirical evidences indicate that intensification of agriculture though integration of livestock into cropping systems and much greater use of modern technologies can significantly increase food production and farm income. Not only can farmers mitigate risks by producing multitude of commodities, but they can also increase the productivity of both crops and animals in a more profitable and sustainable way. Livestock can make a major contribution to the efficient use of available natural resources. The results of this study has shwn that there is a potential to increase cash income and labor utilization through rearing of high-yielding livestock breeds, better feed and pasture management and use of improved technology and that farmers can further increase their household incomes by keeping crossbred cows (ETB 1175 as opposed to ETB 954 from keeping local Zebu cows only)). Policy-makers can assist the integration of livestock into he cropping system and adoption of modern technologies by designing favorable price and trade policies, provisions of credit facilities, generation of new technologies through research, dissemination of new technologies through extension sevices, and improving education.
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This bibliographic record has been provided by Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research