Abstract:
AGP is a multifaceted investment program supporting agricultural productivity and
commercialization focusing on high agricultural potential areas to address some of the
key constraints to agricultural growth and thereby contribute to overall economic
growth and transformation. The further growth o f the agriculture sector is expected to
feature prominently in the second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-I1), currently
under implementation. The Second Agricultural Growth Program II (AGP II)
would be aligned with GTP II, thereby contributing to the achievement o f targets set
for agriculture sector growth. Identification of prevailing problems and understanding
o f the existing livestock production system is vital to devise appropriate research and
development interventions. Therefore, in order to identify livestock production constraints
and prioritize research thematic areas, this field survey was taken on selected
APG II project Woredas o f western Amhara Region. This survey was conducted on
25 Woredas o f Awi, Bahirdar special, South Gondar, Western and Eastern Gojjam
zones o f the Amhara Regional State o f Ethiopia. The primary data was collected from
the community level participatory planning (CLPP) conducted with different classes
o f farmers, followed by interview' o f experts at Woreda and Kebele level and collecting
secondary information on general livestock production from selected woreda of
AGP II Project.
Mixed crop-livestock production is the dominant farming system. Crop production is
important to get feed (crop residue) for animals, in turn; livestock production is an
important means o f draft power and organic manure. Livestock production is important
to improve households’ nutrition and used as wealth accumulation and prestige.
Efficacy problem o f artificial insemination, lack o f improved cattle breeds, drug resistance
problem, shortage o f feed, zero-grazing use adverse effect on small ruminant
and equine production, lack o f market facilities and a lot o f constraints are listed in
almost all AGP Woredas. Therefore, evaluation o f different protocols on improving
the effectiveness o f artificial insemination, generating technologies and demonstration
work on improving forage productivity and low-quality feeds, applying health packages
at farmers level and improving livestock system at different levels o f the value
chain is recommended for further work for each AGP Woreda’s aligned with their
prioritized problem.
