Inception Workshop Report: Moving Further Towards Formalized Goat Value Chains in Pakistan and Ethiopia Through Business-Oriented Breeder and Producer Groups’

Aynalem Haile, Tesfaye Getachew, Barbara Rischkowsky, Mourad Rekik, Dina Najjar, Girma Kassie, Islam Muhammad, Muhammad Imtiaz. (16/12/2024). Inception Workshop Report: Moving Further Towards Formalized Goat Value Chains in Pakistan and Ethiopia Through Business-Oriented Breeder and Producer Groups’. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

Abstract

In Pakistan, the small ruminant sector is vital to the arid and semi-arid regions due to their adaptability to harsh and dry conditions, allowing them to thrive on low-quality feed. This industry significantly supports the livelihoods of the rural people but faces numerous challenges that hinder its productivity. Several factors contribute to reduced productivity, including high kid/lamb mortality, low growth rates, poor nutritional status leading to infertility, extended kidding intervals, and disease prevalence. Controlled breeding is rare, and there is limited culling of underperforming females and breeding males. Recognizing the critical importance of small ruminants, ICARDA has implemented an integrated approach focused on community-based solutions to enhance goat production in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. As part of this initiative, a new project on ‘Moving Further Towards Formalized Goat Value Chains in Pakistan and Ethiopia Through Business-Oriented Breeder and Producer Groups’ has been developed in collaboration with ACIAR.