A GUIDING MANUAL FOR ESTABLISHING A DISEASE -FREE ZONE (FOR RED MEAT PRODUCTION)

Abstract

Although there is an on-going structural transformation in the Ethiopian economy, predominantly from agriculuire to services, agriculture still comprises 45 percent of total output and continues to dominate employment. Within the agricultural sector, the livestock subsector plays a decisive role in the overall economy and serves as a source of draught power, food, income and social status. For instance, in the year 2009, the livestock subsector contributed up to 20% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) and 45% of the agricultural GDP (Behnke, 2010). Ethiopia is endowed with 56.7 million cattle, 29.3 million sheep, 29.11 million Goats, 2.03 million horses, 7.43 million donkeys, 0.4 million mules, 1.16 million camels, 56.87 million poultry and different types of fish resources (CSA, 2015). Considering the number and diversity of livestock resources it has and a rapidly growing economy, the livestock industry is expected to serve as a new source of income for the national economy. Furthermore, due to its geographical proximity to many markets, its ground and air transport infrastructure that directly connects to many niche markets, the country's livestock production potential, attractive government export policies, and even the growing trend of global meat consumption, has huge opportunities for livestock and livestock products export. Despite its potential, due to the fact that livestock are reared for subsistence in traditional low input/low output extensive small-scale production systems, the production, processing and marketing systems haven’t been improved. The traditional livestock production systems of the country which is devoid of proper animal health policies, strategies, and regulatory enforcement mechanisms; have become an opportunity for animal diseases to become rampant and widespread throughout the country. Animal diseases directly affect livestock production with consequences for food security and food safety, trade, rural development, and the environment, while also affecting the livelihood of farmers (EC, 2012). In addition to production loss, public health risks and environmental impacts, endemic livestock diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), lumpy skin disease (LSD) and many others has prohibited Ethiopia from access to lucrative international livestock and livestock product markets, including the European Union. Furthermore, even the existed trade with Middle East countries is frequently hampered and embargo is sometimes imposed (AGP-LMD, 2013b). Furthermore, in addition to existing export bottlenecks, the country is not even self-secured in food. To fulfill the existed and forecasted global as well as domestic animal and animal product market demand, modernization of the livestock production systems is considered as the most critical component of the ongoing and future agricultural transformation agendas of the country. As part of the growth and transformation plan (GTP) of the country; the then Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF) has developed a Livestock Master Plan and Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII) for livestock, and the Ethiopian Policy Study and Research Center has also developed Ethiopian Meat Animals’ Production System Modernization Roadmap. All of these government working documents have clearly indicated the potential intervention options to transform the livestock industry. Consequently, the recently developed Ethiopian Meat Animals Production System Modernization Roadmap has given due emphasis for modernizing the production system of meat animals, especially ruminants (fl£7D et al., 2017). The goal of this road map is to produce a quality meat that can fulfil the safety and quality standards of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which are usually set by the Office International des Epizooties/Epizootics (OIE). To enter and remain competitive in the international meat trade like the European meat market, one of the prerequisites indicated by OIE is establishment and sustaining of a disease-free zone or compartment. Furthermore, the established disease-free zone has to get certification (on disease by disease bases) from OIE. In addition to the disease-free zone certification, OIE also assess and certifies other safety and animal husbandry related issues. Generally, in the current world trade environment, the capacity to demonstrate freedom from disease is a crucial component in maintaining an export trade in livestock products. To this end, as there hasn’t been any documented attempts in Ethiopia to produce animal and animal products as per the WTO standards in general and establishment of a disease-free zone in particular, its presumed that the existed technical knowledge and information on disease free zoning in the country is minimal. And hence, this manual is prepared to assist experts in establishing and maintaining disease-free zones in selected parts of the country.