The supervision team drawn from the World Bank, Ministry of Finance, and LFSDP staff, which is led by Dr. Biruktayet Assefa, WB Technical Team Leader, had a two-day field support supervision in the central Ethiopia Regional State and oversaw LFSDP sub-project implementation activities.
The field mission began with a welcoming speech by Ato Ahemed, a regional agriculture Bureau official followed by a performance briefing presentation by regional project coordinator Ato Mulugeta Tesfaye. The team next proceeded on field visits to three cooperatively organized milk collection centres in Silti, Meskan, and Lemu Woreda, where milk is collected, processed, packaged, and distributed. The cooperatives are active in the processing and sale of value-added dairy products. The cooperatives are currently distributing packed yogurt, butter, cheese, pasteurized whole milk, and whey to Butajira, Kibet, Worabe, and Hosana towns. As a result, members could sell their dairy products to the market and get dividend at the end of the year.
Similarly, the team observed and discussed the implementation and operations expansion of the Melik and Walta Unions, which are working on advanced sub-project implementation operating egg production and marketing activities. The union has completed the modern poultry house construction, which can accommodate 5,000 layers at a time. Melik Union is currently operating with 4500 layers in two poultry buildings. Similarly, Walta Union has completed a three-block poultry house and is awaiting improved breed egg-laying chickens from distribution centres.
Visits are made to three functional CIGs in Sility and Lemu districts that have not been upgraded to the second level but have a substantial role in red meat production. The CIGs keep goats in superior physical condition and sell them to the nearby red meat consumers. The CIGs are profitable and have successfully continued their operations by resolving the issue of red meat animals and paying dividends to members. In addition, the newly established red meat cooperative, which works by fattening goats, is visited in Lemu District.
At the end, CBBP performance, which is jointly operated by ICARDA, Central Research institute and LFSDP is supervised at Doyogena Kebele. The team Briefed about the progress of the CBBP by Livestock and Fishery Research director for Central Ethiopia and visited the superior rams selected from the community by following the selection criteria fixed by the community based on the scientific ram selection criteria, The team observed the superior rams and candidates for selection that are displayed by community participants.
Finally, overall discussions were held on the overall supervision, technical suggestions were made by the world bank groups, and issues to be solved in the remaining time of the project period were raised by Ato Eyassu, the Central Ethiopia Regional State Livestock Development director, and discussions and ways forward were provided by Dr Biruktayet Assefa and Ato Assaye Legesse, a world bank team leader and consultant, respectively.
