AICCRA Research Shows Breakthrough in Livestock Feed Access for Ethiopian Farmers

New research has revealed that the AICCRA project is making a measurable difference for livestock farmers in Ethiopia, helping to ease one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: feed scarcity. Led by a coalition of national and international research institutions alongside development partners and local actors, the initiative has expanded access to improved feed and forage solutions for more than 31,900 smallholder farmers across several livestock-dependent regions.

Source: aiccra.cgiar

The study, which examined the impact of feed and forage research and scaling efforts, shows that farmers in North Shewa, Hadiya, Kembata, Siltie and Guraghe zones are already seeing gains in livestock productivity. Women account for nearly a quarter of the beneficiaries, reflecting a deliberate effort to include female farmers who often bear the brunt of feed shortages in mixed farming systems.

Feed scarcity has long undermined Ethiopia’s livestock potential, cutting into incomes and weakening household resilience as climate variability intensifies. The research indicates that climate-smart forage innovations introduced through AICCRA are improving both the availability and quality of animal feed across diverse agro-ecological zones, helping farmers better withstand dry seasons and erratic weather patterns.

Beyond the farm level, the project invested heavily in knowledge transfer, blending hands-on demonstrations with training for farmers, extension workers and livestock experts. Its outreach extended further through community radio programmes and mobile audio messages delivered in local languages, spreading practical information on feed production and management to tens of thousands more people.

The findings also point to hurdles that could slow wider adoption, including the cost of inputs, limited access to quality forage seed and weak market linkages. These challenges, the researchers note, highlight the need for stronger coordination, better policy support and more reliable data to guide investment decisions.

Despite these obstacles, the study concludes that integrating improved feed and forage technologies into broader farming systems offers a sustainable path forward. By boosting livestock productivity while supporting soil health and landscape restoration, the AICCRA initiative is contributing to food security and more resilient rural livelihoods, reinforcing the case for continued collaboration and investment across Ethiopia’s livestock sector.