Dairy
Modern milk production systems connecting farmers to processors and market
Ethiopia
Overview
In Ethiopia, agriculture is the foundation of prosperity for over 75% of its vast population who depend on farming for their livelihoods. As Africa’s second-most populous nation with an estimated 109 million people (2024 stats by the government), Ethiopia stands at the forefront of agricultural transformation, with smallholder farmers leading the charge toward sustainable prosperity. Despite facing challenges of climate resilience and conflicts, Ethiopia’s vast agricultural potential and dynamic economic growth – reaching an impressive 7.2% GDP growth in fiscal year 2022-23 – position the country for an agricultural revolution that can lift millions into lasting prosperity.
The country’s agricultural sector represents one of Africa’s greatest untapped opportunities, with immense potential to commercialize fruit, vegetable, plant, and livestock products while localizing food production. The government’s ambitious 10-year development plan (2020-2030) aims to sustain high growth rates while transitioning to a private sector-driven economy, creating unprecedented opportunities for agricultural innovation and market expansion.
For over a decade, our dedicated team in Ethiopia has partnered with smallholder farmers – especially women and youth – to unlock the transformative power of agriculture. This partnership combines global expertise with invaluable local knowledge to enable farming communities to boost productivity, strengthen agribusinesses, enhance food security, and bridge their living income gap. By 2030, we aim to have enabled 1 million smallholder farmers – 70% of whom are youth – sustainably enhance their livelihoods by building economic resilience and accessing profitable markets across Ethiopia’s diverse agricultural landscape.
Heifer Ethiopia is working with partners to strengthen market systems, advance innovation in agricultural technology, catalyze private sector partnerships, and build climate-smart farming systems – all aimed at moving our farmers from subsistence to business. With the right support, knowledge, and market connections, these farmers are creating a future of food security, economic empowerment, and lasting opportunities for their families and communities.
Strategic Value Chains
Poultry
Integrated chicken production creating jobs and nutrition security.
Small Ruminants
Goat farming systems for meat, milk, and income diversification.
Beekeeping
High-value honey and bee product development for domestic and international markets.
Horticulture
High-value vegetable and fruit production for domestic and regional markets.
Our Comprehensive Approach:
- Market-Centered Value Chains – Connecting smallholder farmers directly to profitable and inclusive markets across beef cattle, dairy, poultry, small ruminants, beekeeping, fish, and horticulture value chains.
- Innovation and Technology – Leveraging cutting-edge agricultural technologies and digital solutions through programs like the youth-led AYuTe NextGen to improve farming efficiency, reduce costs, and increase market access.
- Youth and Women Empowerment – Creating meaningful employment and leadership opportunities for rural youth and women, with 70% of our target beneficiaries being young entrepreneurs driving agricultural innovation.
- Climate-Smart Agriculture – Implementing resilient farming practices that protect the environment while maximizing productivity and profitability across diverse agroecological zones.
- Private Sector Partnerships – Building competitive and inclusive value chains through strategic partnerships with private companies and public institutions that drive sustainable change.
- Sustainable Living Income Achievement – Ensuring families achieve the income required for a decent life—including safe shelter, nutritious food, clothing, education, and healthcare—while building economic and climate resilience.
Featured Projects
Africa Tractorization Strategy Ethiopia Project
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2025–present
The Africa Tractorization Strategy Ethiopia (ATSEP) Project expands access to tractor services for smallholder farmers through an inclusive financing model that lowers the cost of ownership. By making mechanization more attainable, the project supports higher productivity, eases labor demands and increases farm income.
ATSEP uses a pay-as-you-go financing approach that allows smallholder farmers to purchase tractors over time while also increasing the availability of mechanization services at the local and regional levels. The model reduces high upfront costs and collateral barriers, opens employment pathways for women and youth and supports climate-smart agricultural practices across Ethiopia.
Ethiopia Livestock Insurance
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2025–present
The Ethiopia Livestock Insurance (ELSI) project supports pastoralist households by expanding access to affordable livestock insurance that helps protect animals and incomes from climate- and shock-related losses. Designed to fit pastoral systems, the project aims to strengthen household resilience and reduce the financial risk associated with drought, disease and other disruptions. The project currently supports 6,250 pastoralist households in the Somali Region, with a focus on building a model that can reach more families over time.
AYuTe Africa Challenge Ethiopia
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2022–present
The AYuTe Africa Challenge Ethiopia is an annual national competition that awards cash grants to Ethiopian agritech innovators with ideas to transform farming and food production. The national competition is part of a regional program, AYuTe Africa NextGen, which supports young African entrepreneurs in developing solutions to address smallholder farmers’ challenges, providing necessary incubation and financing to drive agribusiness innovation across the continent.
Between 2022 and 2024, Heifer Ethiopia launched three successful competitions as part of the venture and awarded prizes to 12 young women and men to advance their original agricultural technology innovations. The awards combined cash grants, mentorship and business development support to help translate the energy and ideas of young innovators into meaningful impact for smallholder farmers across the country.
Enhancing Livelihoods of Smallholders through Improved Poultry Business
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2023–2027
Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Enhancing Livelihoods of Smallholders through Improved Poultry Business project aims to transform traditional smallholder poultry production while supporting 70,000 rural households to achieve sustainable living income. The project prioritizes engaging women and youth smallholders, aiming to increase income from egg production by 35 percent and improve the efficiency of poultry venture capital through improved partnerships between smallholder egg producers, the private sector and the public. Heifer Ethiopia provides technical assistance to drive effective implementation and build capacity to optimize poultry production and market integration.
Lowlands Livelihoods Resilience Project
Aiming to support 2.5 million people — 50 percent women and 20 percent youth — the Lowlands Livelihoods Resilience Project (LLRP) works in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia to strengthen the livelihoods of pastoral and agropastoral communities working in livestock production, beekeeping and fisheries. Heifer Ethiopia provides technical assistance for the project, which is implemented by the government and co-financed by the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Focused on generating knowledge, implementing strategic interventions and fostering innovation, Heifer Ethiopia has developed 57 documents about innovative approaches, such as the public-private-producer-partnership (4P) model, livestock auction market and community animal health worker models. We have provided additional support by mentoring and coaching regional field staff, conducting feasibility studies and assessments for sustainable and commercially viable solutions and facilitating impactful initiatives in value chains, feed systems and animal health.
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Passing on the Purpose
Breaking barriers an ethiopian beekeepers story of resilience
Partners
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands (MILLS)
- World Bank
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Alema Farms/Alema Koudijs Feed PLC
- Cooperative Bank of Oromia
“Heifer International trained me in chicken farming. Thanks to my relentless efforts to implement what I learned, chicken farming has now become second nature to me.”
Contact Heifer in Ethiopia
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