Thumbnail Image

Creating employment potential in small-ruminant value chains in the Ethiopian Highlands

Year of publication 2017

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 82 p.

Author Mueller, B., Acero, F. & Estruch, E.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 978-92-5-109673-4

Series title FAO Animal Production and Health Working Papers

Series number no. 16

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) In December 2014 the Ministry for Livestock Resources Development of Ethiopia presented its Livestock Master Plan (LMP) with the most important targets and priorities to achieve further development of the livestock sector. The LMP contemplates roughly to increase by half the total number of sheep and by a third the total number of goats by the end of 2020. This creates tremendous opportunity for employment creation and income expansion for poor households, and thus a great channel for poverty re duction. An innovative methodology was designed and implemented by FAO to quantify the impact of large scale investments in small ruminant value chains on employment creation. An elaborate quantitative value chain survey, together with several qualitative assessments have been undertaken over a period of 5 months from May to September 2014. This working paper presents the main results of this analytical process. After a short review and summary of the existing knowledge on employment in SRVCs in the Ethiopian highlands (section 3), the wider context, project areas, and analytical methodology are presented (section 4). Section 5 begins with the presentation of the empirical results, by focussing on the technical aspects of production and marketing in the value chain, with particular attention to the practice of small ruminant fattening and achievable profit margins by various actors. Section 6 looks in more detail at relevant employment dimensions along the value chain, focussing on the work particularly of youth and women. Section 7 presents the wider institutional setting and policy environment, in order to set the ground for the concluding chapter which provides the range of opportunities and bottlenecks towards decent employment promotion in the sub-sector, and to develop wider policy and program recommendations at large.

Cite this content as:

​Mueller, B., Acero, F. & Estruch, E. 2017. Creating employment potential in small-ruminant value chains in the Ethiopian Highlands. FAO Animal Production and Health Working Paper No. 16. Rome, FAO.


Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Small ruminant value chain analysis for Serbia 2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This report examines the role of sheep and goat farming in Serbia’s rural economy and cultural heritage. Despite modest declines in livestock numbers since 2015, Serbia has demonstrated resilience with steady or increasing meat production. Challenges include labour shortages, low profitability at the farm level, limited financial resources for modernization, and restricted access to pastures. The report highlights opportunities to enhance productivity through improved genetics, better farm management practices, formalized contracts with processors, and value-added products like premium lamb cuts or cheeses. Aligning with EU standards is identified as critical for expanding into international markets. Recommendations focus on infrastructure development, capacity building through advisory services, cooperative models among farmers, and sustainability measures aligned with EU Green Deal goals. These steps can help Serbia build a competitive small ruminant sector that supports rural development while ensuring environmental sustainability.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Small ruminant value chain analysis for Montenegro 2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This reports highlights the strategic importance of sheep and goat farming in sustaining rural livelihoods, preserving cultural traditions, and supporting food security in Montenegro. While livestock numbers have remained relatively stable, challenges such as limited financial resources, labour shortages, and climate change impacts hinder sectoral growth. The report emphasizes Montenegro’s potential to develop niche markets for artisanal cheeses and speciality meats by leveraging its unique geography and biodiversity. Recommendations include modernizing infrastructure, promoting collective action among farmers, enhancing advisory services, and aligning with European Union standards to access high-value markets. By integrating small ruminant farming with agrotourism initiatives and adopting sustainable practices, Montenegro can strengthen its small ruminant sector while contributing to rural development.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Small ruminant value chain analysis for Albania 2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This report examines the critical role of sheep and goats in Albania's rural economy, food security, and cultural heritage. Despite their importance, the sector has faced a significant 20.9 percent decline in livestock numbers between 2015 and 2021, driven by challenges such as low productivity, informal markets, labour shortages, and limited financial resources. The report highlights Albania’s high domestic consumption of small ruminant products and its potential to develop niche markets for premium cheeses and lamb. It also underscores the need to align with European Union standards to access broader markets. Key recommendations include improving farm management practices, modernizing infrastructure, strengthening farmer-processor relationships, and leveraging European Union funding opportunities. By addressing these constraints and fostering innovation, Albania can revitalize its small ruminant sector to ensure sustainable growth, competitiveness, and resilience.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.