ILRI - International Livestock Research Institute

Published purpose

The project aims to increase agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for people in rural areas by building capacity for market-oriented agricultural production. The project assists farmers, community organizations, and public institutions to develop innovative methods to produce high value crops, such as honey, beans, and teff, and livestock such as sheep and goats. The project focuses on building connections between smallholder farmers in order to increase their negotiating power, access to processing facilities, and access to market information, thereby increasing their potential to earn a higher income. The project also works to improve the quality of farm products, their storage, and processing in order to ensure a higher price at market. Linking farmer groups and small-scale local traders with larger wholesale, processing, and export marketing groups are also part of the strategy. The project also works with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Agricultural Technical and Vocational Training Centers to develop training opportunities for market-oriented farming.