The South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional State (SNNPR) Trade and Industry Bureau disclosed that it is working to improve and modernize live animal market in the region and benefit the farmers at all levels of the market system. The new strategy is believed to stave off the role of brokers and increase the amount that the region earns from export of live animals.
Director of Agricultural products marketing and Quality Control Directorate with the Bureau, Esayas Shewane, said the region has tailored a system to improve market of live animals in such a way that it enables to tap the untapped resource in it.
The improvement in live animals market in the region is believed to abate the effect of illicit trade on export and newly allocated sites for the practice of such markets have already began operation at Hosana, South Omo, Bench Maji, Konta Special Zone and Segen.
The new markets are expected to benefit animals’ breeders, consumers and those engaged in animal fattening and exporting by inducing fair competition and enabling the farmers get better payment for their products.
Unlike the previous markets, the new markets are serving for different animals in separate sites and this eases consumption and access in different parts of the region.
Licensing for those who purchase and transport live animals from one corner of the region and other areas of the country is also underway.