Why Ethiopia’s Agricultural Research System Still Fails Pastoral Areas
Ethiopia's agricultural research system is criticized for being overly focused on highland regions, leaving pastoral lowlands underserved and vulnerable to drought and disease. Experts argue that reorienting research toward lowland ecology and local pastoral practices is essential for national food security.
Why it matters
Improving agricultural productivity in pastoral regions is critical for the economic stability and food security of millions in the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia’s lowlands and pastoral areas hold much of the country’s livestock wealth, drought resilience potential, and future agricultural frontier. Yet for decades, they have remained peripheral within Ethiopia’s agricultural research system. As a result, pastoral communities remain highly exposed to drought shocks, livestock disease risks, and chronic vulnerability—while national productivity and food security opportunities are lost.
The article presents a critique of government policy based on field findings and expert observations without clear partisan bias.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in