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Photo by Omer Redi<strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Camels Strut to ExportMarkets Despite ChallengesBy Elias GebreselassieTefera Hailu (MD), a veter<strong>in</strong>arianturned bus<strong>in</strong>essman,is adamant with what hesees as opportunities <strong>in</strong> thelivestock export bus<strong>in</strong>ess.He says the bus<strong>in</strong>ess he has been <strong>in</strong> forthe last 17 years is strutt<strong>in</strong>g to a goodprospect despite tough challenges withthe export of camels one area of hope.His company, Tefera Hailu PLC, exportssheep, goats, camels and cattle.“In the just concluded <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n fiscalyear 2012/13, we exported about $2.5million worth of camel, which accountsfor about 35 percent of our total livestockexport,” Tefera said. “But this is far belowthe potential.”<strong>The</strong> major export dest<strong>in</strong>ations are Libya,Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while the placesof orig<strong>in</strong> for camels are parts of Oromiaand Somali Region with preferences fortypes of camels also determ<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g theirdest<strong>in</strong>ation. Big camels are dest<strong>in</strong>ed toEgypt while the medium ones go to Libyaand the smallest ones to Saudi Arabia.Tefera’s optimism for bus<strong>in</strong>ess on camelsis not without a reason. Official data, forexample, shows compared to the country’shuge potential <strong>in</strong> this sector, the current exportis just the tip of the iceberg. In fact it isoften reported that the country is endowedwith a huge livestock reserve rank<strong>in</strong>g 10th<strong>in</strong> the world and first <strong>in</strong> Africa.<strong>The</strong> Central Statistical Agency (CSA)report for the just concluded budget yearstates that there are about 54 million cattle,25.5 million sheep, 24.6 million goatsand nearly a million camels.About 60 percent of <strong>Ethiopia</strong>’s landmassis covered by pastoralist areas, even thoughthey represent only 11 percent of its population.Despite the potential, <strong>Ethiopia</strong>’s oonly earn<strong>in</strong>g from cattle export reached is$155 million <strong>in</strong> the same year, accord<strong>in</strong>g tothe M<strong>in</strong>istry of Trade (MoT).MoT figures show dur<strong>in</strong>g the 12 months,camel exports were about $39 million,account<strong>in</strong>g for 25 percent of the total revenuefrom livestock exports to the MiddleEast and North Africa (MENA) region.<strong>The</strong> top importer of camels from <strong>Ethiopia</strong>was Egypt followed by Djibouti, Sudan,Somalia, Libya, Lebanon, Saudi Arabiaand United Arab Emirates, <strong>in</strong> that order.Kelifa Husse<strong>in</strong>, Director of Live Animal,Hide and Sk<strong>in</strong> Market<strong>in</strong>g Directorate atMoT stated that camel exports dur<strong>in</strong>gthe last fiscal year was only 48 and 59percent of the target <strong>in</strong> terms of quantityand monetary earn<strong>in</strong>gs. He attributedthis shortfall to economic hardships faced<strong>in</strong> Sudan - a major buyer of <strong>Ethiopia</strong>ncamels - illegal flow of livestock to neighbor<strong>in</strong>gcountries, lack of awareness on thebenefits of the sector, lack of <strong>in</strong>ternationalstandard quarant<strong>in</strong>e center and outdatedand too long market<strong>in</strong>g cha<strong>in</strong>.“For the past year and half, we haveundertaken a sector study <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>gall stakeholders, and prepared a draftproclamation,” said Kelifa add<strong>in</strong>g thatthe proclamation has made its way to theCouncil of M<strong>in</strong>isters, and is expected to beratified by parliament next year.<strong>The</strong>re are two proclamations currently- one on Rawhide and Sk<strong>in</strong> Trade and asecond on Live Animal Trade - with aparticular desire to streaml<strong>in</strong>e the livestockand associated sectors, stop illicit flows oflivestock and improve qualityKelifa, however, reiterated that his m<strong>in</strong>istryand other responsible <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n government<strong>in</strong>stitutions are not wait<strong>in</strong>g for theproclamations to be ratified to act on issues<strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>dustry. For example, five quarant<strong>in</strong>ecenters <strong>in</strong> areas border<strong>in</strong>g with neighbor<strong>in</strong>gcountries are under construction,www.theethiopianamerican.com 09
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