A crossbreeding initiative, feed improvements and infrastructural upgrades have gifted Ethiopia with 12 billion liters of milk, almost double 2022’s production.
Under the Yeremat Tirufat or “Bounty of the Basket” initiative, crossbreeding has grown eightfold in three years and increased milk volumes. Hence the project could help reduce annual imports of dairy products and alleviate above-average prices.
According to the Ethiopia New Agency, annual crossbreeding counts spiked from 500,000 head of cattle to 1.2 million in the initiative’s first year, 2022.
Two years on, the Minister of Agriculture Fikru Regassa fast-tracked progress at 2.4 million crossbred animals in the 2023-24 period.
Halfway through its third year or 2024-25 period, the project currently boasts 2 million crossbred head. The minister expects this count to hit a record target of 3.8 million cattle later this fiscal year.
He asserts that it is crossbreeding that has rallied the national milk output far above the 5.8 billion liters of 2022.
The improvement could propel Ethiopia into the top cream of Africa’s leading milk-producing nations. The last tally in 2022 had put the East African nation at number four after Sudan, Kenya and the leader, Egypt.
Dairy Infrastructure
Besides milk yields, “Bounty of the Basket” is also developing livestock infrastructure, primarily via Artificial Insemination (AI) and liquid nitrogen utilities.
While AI is the key to breeding, liquid nitrogen facilitates the application of this reproduction technique and also enables freeze-branding.
Countrywide dairy processing facilities could also expand to accommodate rising capacities. As of 2022, such plants numbered 45 and had selective distribution in dairy cattle zones across Ethiopia.
By June 2023, co-operative-, private- and government-run plants had a capacity for processing 4.69 million tonnes per year. Key facilities for ayib (cheese), arera (butter), kefir and ergo (yogurt) processing are situated in the Addis, Awassa, and Bahir Dar areas.
It therefore looks like producers of whole milk and processed dairy are reaping the fruits of a successful crossbreading intiative in Ethiopia. Regarding which, below statistics give the bigger picture of the country’s milk sector.
Ethiopia Milk Statistics
Ethiopia ranks a top 4 milk-producing nations in Africa and the 34th biggest worldwide, as of 2022. The average annual dairy production, inclusive of milk solids, oscillates between 4.48 million tonnes (2022) and 4.69 million t (2023). By 2024, raw milk production was at nearly 12 billion liters, according to data by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Is Ethiopia’s milk processing developed?
While an impressive producer of milk, Ethiopia faces processing constraints. By mid-2023 there were 45 facilities, 31 of these operating at 28% of their full capability due to incapacitation. Besides, private entities produce just 2.6% of the country’s total processing capacity of 1,200 tonnes of milk solids per day, as of 2023.
Is milk consumption high in Ethiopia?
Milk consumption in Ethiopia averages 20-25 liters (l) per person per year (2017), according to the European Union-supported CDAIS initiative. This milk per capita is roughly 11% of the annual recommendation of 205 l by the World Health Organization (WHO). As such, it compares poorly to regional competitors. In 2017, neighbors Sudan and Kenya had annual milk per capita of 180 l and 120 l, respectively.
What is the distribution chain set up of milk in Ethiopia?
Slightly under half of Ethiopia’s milk undergoes distribution, using the example of 2018. Of 2018’s total milk production at 4.4 bilion l, distribution represented 43% while rural usage claimed 57%. The distributed portion mainly featured processed packet milk, cheese and yogurt while whole milk made up the rest. In total, around 3.08 billion l or 70% of the 2018 production ended up in human consumption.