The Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM) recently funded a new Subprogramme on Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs. The Subprogramme aims to accelerate the development of digital innovation in the agri-food sector. This network of in-country innovation hubs, established by FAO and country institutions, supports farmers and value chain actors. The Subprogramme focuses especially on youth and women and seeks to increase their skills and competitiveness.

The FMM Subprogramme on Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs (GNDAH) has started the implementation in Dominica, Grenada, Ethiopia, and Morocco. Considering national priorities on digital innovation, FAO’s country teams are scoping the state of each country’s digital development and capacity of partners, such as government institutions, academia, NGOs, and the private sector. This Subprogramme seeks to support countries in designing a national digital agriculture model that meets local needs in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries priorities and fostering public-private partnerships.

While the countries are different in size, culture, economy, and priorities, there are many synergies and lessons learnt that can be exchanged across countries and regions.

Ethiopia, with 110 million people, has around 40% of its population under the age of 15. The country has formulated a long-term strategy that includes the transformation of the agricultural sector. Since 70% of the population works in agriculture, this transformation will impact on the lives of many in the population.

Because 80% of the population in Ethiopia lives in rural areas, capacity building, partnerships, and market information dissemination are crucial elements in a digital transformation of the country. The government of Ethiopia considers accelerate digital transformation as a priority.

The Global Network Hub Subprogramme, which will run until 2023, is off to a good start and these four countries may be joined by others in the future. All the target countries mentioned their desire to link their work with existing FAO projects such as the Hand in Hand initiative, the 1 000 Digital Villages initiative, and others.

Source: FAO

Ethiopia’s leading animal husbandry international tradeshow enjoyed more than 3000 attendees, making all exhibitors satisfied with the result (quality and quantity of visitors).

Collocating the 29^th Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) annual conference with the trade fair enabled researchers, Academia, and policymakers to meet in one platform with private sector stakeholders operating along the entire animal husbandry value-chain. 

The event was officially opened by high-ranking representatives of Ethiopian government officials and different foreign ambassadors. H.E. Dr. Fikru Regassa, State Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, said, “this trade fair creates a platform for all key stakeholders in the whole livestock value chain to meet, discuss and transact business that can improve productivity in the sector. He also mentioned that the government had set plenty of incentives for those who show interest in working and growing in the sector besides encouraging already established livestock producers to expand their production capacity and start value addition schemes to benefit themselves and the nation, in general serve the African market.

Despite having one of the largest cattle populations in Africa, Ethiopia has been struggling for years to fulfill the sector’s potential. Worldwide, five of agriculture’s top ten commodities are animal-sourced, said Dr. Daniel Temesgen, President – Ethiopian Society of Animal Production. In Africa alone, the market value for animal-sourced foods is expected to rise to USD151billion by 2050. He added that Ethiopia can unleash the huge potential to become a leader in livestock production in the World by acting now, together, and coherently.

According to Mr. Rinus Vann Klinken, Project Manager of SNV BRIDGE, the dairy processors have reached a capacity of processing 340,000 liters of milk per day from 250,000 liters of milk per day within a year. However, 340,000 liters of milk per day for a population of 117 million people is not very much, but it is a gross percentage of 20%. Thus the target is to reach a capacity of processing 1 million liters per day, which is also the ambition of the Ministry, which benefits both businesses and consumers.

The 10^th Ethio Poultry Expo (Ethiopex), and 5^th African Livestock Exhibition and Congress (ALEC) enabled 3000+ trade visitors from 20 countries to communicate with 50+ exhibitors from 6 countries. Their business conversations led to sales leads, knowledge sharing, and strong business relationships.

Even though the event industry faced many challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outcome was unexpectedly achieving a remarkable success! The exhibitors were very happy, as a satisfying number of targeted participants visited their booth to continue discussions on existing and new projects.

International companies that recognize the huge potential of Ethiopia – like Aviagen, BigDuthman, Lohman, Babolna Tetra, Trouw Nutrition, and AVICO has participated in the trade fair with the objective of creating a network with the industry stakeholders and promoting their modern equipment’s and products as well as building their brand in the fastest-growing market. The show gives them the perfect platform to meet customers, which they have missed for the last two years due to COVID – 19.

Most of the local participants are very happy to get back to physical shows that enable them to reconnect with industry players and explore new partnership opportunities.

Following the success of the physical event, the organizers also announced a three-month-long series of the online trade fair that is going to take place from 08 November to 29 January. With a more significant number of people realizing the benefits of Digital Trade fairs, it’s highly likely for virtual events to become a permanent fixture in future marketing strategies. Virtual events offer the opportunity for attendees to browse content at their own pace and zoom in on the topics of their choosing much faster.

Register at https://virtual.africanlivestock.net/ You can Participate in the Virtual AFRICAN LIVESTOCK EXHIBITION AND CONGRESS (ALEC) AND ETHIO POULTRY EXPO (ETHIOPEX) using the following link

https://virtual.africanlivestock.net/

Listeriosis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria is ubiquitous in the environment and survives well in moist soil for about one year. In domestic animals the disease is most important in ruminants and most commonly seen during winter months when animals are being fed silage. Listeriosis is usually acquired from feeding of poor quality or poorly fermented silage. However, it can still occur in animals on pasture, and infection almost always results from ingestion of the bacteria.

Listeria has a predilection for the central nervous system and more specifically the brainstem, with encephalitis being the most common presentation. The organism invades via breaks in the buccal membrane often linked to shedding and replacement of teeth, from where it then ascends the trigeminal nerve. Any practice that may damage the oral cavity such as dosing injuries or the feeding hard concentrate feed can also potentially predispose to infection.

While animals suffering from Listeriosis can demonstrate a range of symptoms, in cattle and sheep the condition is mainly seen as a nervous disease or encephalitis showing symptoms such as depression, head tilt, paralysis of facial muscles causing an inability to eat, and possibly death. A number of other presentations such as abortions and the birth of weak calves/lambs, or a systemic infection resulting in septicaemia with miliary abscesses throughout body organs can manifest. Other less common conditions can also present such as conjunctivitis most likely caused by dust from feed, endocarditis and mastitis.

To read more How farmers can tackle listeriosis!

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), also known as sheep and goat plague, is a highly contagious animal disease affecting domestic and wild small ruminants. the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has procured a USD 921,000 machine that will enhance the production of thermo-tolerant Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccine in Ethiopia.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on 21 January 2021, Dr. Fikru Regassa, State Minister for Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia, said diseases significantly affect the livestock sector's production and productivity and result in restrictions on export.

"However, most of the livestock diseases are preventable and controlled through vaccination. The machine will enable us to produce safe, quality, and enough thermo-tolerant vaccines," said Dr. Regassa. He thanked FAO and the EU for the support and re-affirmed the Government of Ethiopia's commitment to eradicate PPR.

to read the full article click on this link Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)