Feb 02, 2016

USAID Administrator Gayle Smith Visits Abergelle Abattoir in Ethiopia

On February 1, the Agricultural Growth Program-Livestock Market Development (AGP-LMD) held an event recognizing Abergelle, an abattoir located in Mekele. USAID – US Agency for International Development Administrator Gayle Smith and USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Africa Linda Etim both attended this event along with Mission Director Dennis Weller. 

Three years ago the Abergelle Export Abattoir was underutilized and standing idle. Now, the slaughterhouse operates daily and has reached 40% capacity processing 250 cattle and 1000 small ruminants (sheep and goats) per day, employing 250 staff of which 40% are women. Abergelle supplies meat to domestic and export markets in the Middle East and Asia with many new growth opportunities available beyond these markets. Through Feed the Future support, Abergelle has visited slaughterhouse operations in South Africa, made connections with international buyers through international trade fairs and established supply linkages with Feed the Future supported cooperatives which include chronically food insecure households who supply 200 small ruminants per week to Abergelle. 

Feed the Future provided training in feedlot operations, pre-slaughter animal handling, slaughtering procedures, cold chain management, personal and meat hygiene and meat fabrication. The Feed the Future Livestock Market Development (LMD) project has approved a grant of approximately $100,000 to Abergelle to improve the Abattoir’s quality assurance procedures and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HAACP) certification. The LMD Activity has also supported Abergelle to link with a U.S. investment partner who will soon make a multi-million dollar investment in the slaughterhouse and provide management support.

Livestock is one of the USAID Ethiopia priority Feed the Future value chains. In FY 2015, USAID/Ethiopia’s efforts leveraged $11.5 million in private-sector investments into first-year sales of more than $17.9 million across the livestock sector. USAID/Ethiopia will continue supporting the livestock value chain during the next phase of FTF programming from 2016-2021.

Check out our full album of photos from the event on Facebook.

Read more about Feed the Future.