Review on Ethiopia Meat Export: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in Global Market

School of Veterinary Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: Gelan Dule Dahesa, School of Veterinary Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia, Phone: +251982607591; E-mail: [email protected]

Received Date: December 28, 2024

Published Date: January 21, 2025

Citation: Jima B, et al. (2025). Review on Ethiopia Meat Export: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in Global Market. Mathews J Vet Sci. 9(1):58.

Copyrights: Jima B, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Ethiopia's livestock population, one of Africa's largest, generates significant foreign exchange revenues, income for farming communities, and investment, contributing 12-33% of the country's overall GDP. five of Ethiopia's nine privately operated export abattoirs ship 150 MT of carcasses every week to the Middle East. Ethiopia's meat and live animal industries benefit from the country's large animal population, flexible genotypes, varied agroecology, government assistance, and a growing number of export abattoirs, which raises local value addition. Ethiopia produces most of its meat from sheep and goats, with smaller amounts coming from cattle and chickens. The yearly consumption of sheep and goat meat is increasing, driving up export demand. There is potential for Ethiopian meat exports to the Middle East, with the UAE and KSA being two important markets. Countries with abundant animal resources, like Ethiopia, have a great chance to export meat to Middle Eastern and African nations due to the rising demand for meat products. The lack of proper infrastructure in Ethiopia's meat export business results in short shelf lives because of antiquated packaging techniques, inadequate freezing and chilling facilities, and non-specialized transportation. Producers face challenges such as feed shortage, diseases, drought, grazing land shortage, market access, veterinary services, poor management, phytosanitary regulations, low literacy, local genotypes, inadequate research support, low technology uptake, weak policies, financing, and implementation of existing policies, hindering the development of livestock and meat value chains. In the Middle East, Ethiopia faces rivalry for livestock and product markets from the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Somalia, Sudan, and Eastern Europe. The highland feedlot industry, focusing on commercial animal husbandry, could boost abattoirs and meat exporters by increasing input quality. Enhancing packers' quality standards, branding, meat quality standardization, and supply structure will improve performance. This will benefit investors and farmers by increasing profit margins and enhancing veterinarian service and airport cargo administration.

Keywords: Ethiopia, Meat, Export, Opportunities, Challenges, Global Markets.