| Project Detail |
This project aims to support emerging opportunities for semi-formal and formal trade and marketing of goats in Pakistan and Ethiopia by mobilising complementary findings from the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas and ACIAR-funded research in Africa and Asia. Smallholder families dominate SR production in Ethiopia and Pakistan, and small ruminants are very important to consumers and farmers. As well as being highly valued for routine domestic consumption, goats and sheep are sacrificed at Eid al-Adha, a significant annual observance for Muslims globally. The demand for small ruminant meat and milk is also growing globally due to population increases, rising incomes and urbanisation. This creates an opportunity to expand and commercialise small ruminant production, generating income for producers and employment for value chain actors, particularly women and youth. The project aims to build on successful pilots of community-based breeding programs and other innovations in north and east Africa and Middle East countries. These initiatives have shown measurable genetic gains and inclusive socioeconomic benefits, and the project seeks to apply and test these solutions more widely. This project will also build on 8 years of ACIAR-funded research in other countries and regions, which identified key issues affecting trade and market access and small ruminant production efficiencies, regardless of geographical context. |
