October 23, 2007

Ethiopia loses US$138 million yearly for livestock smuggling 

Illegal livestock trade costs Ethiopia US$138 million a year, the government said on Monday (October 22).

Livestock exports are one of the country's main livelihood sources, earning US$52 million last year.

Assefa Mulugeta, head of the Agriculture Ministry's Livestock Department, said Ethiopian cattle and goats were being smuggled overland to neighbouring countries before being shipped to the Middle East for sale.

He said the government is already taking action against the illegal trade by establishing trading centres where farmers will receive competitive prices to discourage smuggling.