Addis Ababa/Borena, July 19, 2006 – Pastoralists from various countries said Ethiopia could further scale up its economic growth through proper utilization of its animal resources especially from the Borena Zone of the Oromia State.

Pastoralists who have gathered in an experience-sharing meeting told ENA yesterday that the ongoing animal husbandry in Ethiopia would pull out the country's pastoralists from poverty.

Pastoralists from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Somaliland, Puntland, Djibouti, Sudan, Peru, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, India and Argentina, among others, are attending the regional meeting of pastoralists in Borena.

The participants of the meeting pointed out that Ethiopia's cattle resource is unique from the cattle resource elsewhere in the world because it comprises a host of species.

The pastoralists commended the Ethiopian government for paying due attention to pastoralists' affairs and for establishing Pastoralists' Affairs Standing Committee in the Federal Parliament.

They said they have taken a good lesson from Gada system, a traditional conflict resolution method among Oromia's pastoralists.

Ethiopia's pastoralists must in turn learn from others' experience about camel breeding, they said, adding that today camel breeding has advanced elsewhere in the world.

The pastoralists pledged to work jointly in many areas, particularly in finding market opportunities in the world animal market.

Pastoralists from some 20 countries have been sharing their experiences here in Ethiopia at the Borena Zone of the Oromia State.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald/ENA

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives