Livestock Feeds Keep Tightening In Eastern Ethiopia Communities .

 

In the dry open lands of eastern Ethiopia livestock has always been more than an economic activity, It is life. For generations cattle goats and sheep have been the main source of food income and social standing for families spread across Dire Dawa Harar and large parts of the Somali Regional State. Today that way of life is under growing pressure as animal feed becomes harder to find and more expensive to afford. Across these regions pastoralists and semi pastoral farmers are facing a situation many describe as one of the hardest in recent years. The problem is not a sudden disaster. It is a slow tightening. Feed prices have climbed steadily over the past six months while grazing land has continued to shrink. Together these changes are pushing families into difficult decisions that could shape their future for years.

Livestock traders in major markets around Dire Dawa say the cost of commercial animal feed has risen by more than sixty percent within a short period, Feed that was once within reach for small producers has become a luxury. Bags that sold at manageable prices last year are now priced far beyond what many households can afford. Veterinary officers working in rural areas confirm the same trend. They say farmers now visit clinics not only with sick animals but also with questions about feeding. Many ask how long animals can survive on reduced rations. Others ask whether crop waste can replace proper feed. These questions were rare in the past. The pressure is worsened by changes on the land itself, Natural grazing areas that once supported large herds are no longer reliable. Prolonged dry conditions have reduced grass growth. At the same time land use changes including expansion of settlements farming and infrastructure have cut into traditional grazing routes. What remains is often overused and exhausted.

For pastoral families the impact is immediate and personal, When animals do not eat well they lose weight. When they lose weight they fetch lower prices in the market. Many families say they are now selling animals earlier than planned simply to avoid watching them deteriorate further. In livestock markets goats sheep and cattle are arriving in larger numbers but buyers are cautious, Animals look thinner. Milk producing animals yield less. Traders say demand has weakened because buyers know animals are underfed. Prices drop further. The result is that families sell more but earn less.

A pastoralist from the outskirts of Harar explained that selling early is not a choice but a survival move. Keeping animals without feed means watching value disappear day by day. Selling at a loss is painful but watching animals die would be worse. This pattern is repeating across communities. Herd sizes are shrinking not because families want fewer animals but because they cannot sustain them. Young animals are especially affected. Poor nutrition weakens their immunity and slows growth. Veterinary officials warn that this creates conditions for disease outbreaks.

According to veterinary officers poor feeding is often the hidden cause behind many livestock diseases. When animals are weak infections spread faster and recovery takes longer. In young animals the risk is even higher, Losses among calves kids and lambs can wipe out future herd recovery. Local cooperatives involved in feed supply say the problem is not limited to farmers alone. Feed mills are struggling as well. Many mills are operating below capacity, Input costs have risen sharply. Some feed additives are imported and foreign exchange shortages have made procurement difficult. When mills cannot get inputs production slows. When production slows supply tightens and prices rise further.

This creates a cycle that is hard to break. Farmers cannot afford feed, Mills cannot produce enough feed. Traders pass on higher costs. Everyone feels the strain. In response some pastoral communities have started changing their feeding practices. In several areas farmers are now feeding animals with crop residues much earlier than usual. Stalks from sorghum maize and other crops are being used weeks or even months ahead of the normal dry season period. While this helps animals survive it is not ideal. Crop residues are low in nutrients and cannot replace balanced feed for long. Veterinary officers warn that relying on residues too early reduces options later in the season when conditions may worsen. The shift also shows how stretched families have become. What was once a backup plan is now a main strategy.

Regional authorities are aware of the situation. Officials in local administrations acknowledge that livestock producers are under pressure. However emergency feed support has not yet been approved. Authorities cite budget constraints and competing humanitarian needs including food assistance for vulnerable populations. This delay worries local leaders and community elders. They say that once livestock systems collapse recovery is slow and costly. Animals take years to rebuild. Skills and traditions can be lost in one season. Livestock plays a major role in Ethiopia’s economy and food security. It provides meat milk hides and income for millions of households. In eastern regions it is often the primary source of livelihood. When livestock suffers entire communities feel the impact.

Experts warn that continued feed shortages could have wider consequences. Reduced milk production affects child nutrition, Lower meat supply pushes prices up in urban markets. Falling household income increases poverty and dependence on aid. There is also concern about long term changes. When families sell animals under pressure some never return to herding, Young people move away. Knowledge fades. What begins as a feed shortage can quietly reshape rural society.

Local leaders are calling for practical solutions, They urge authorities to prioritise emergency feed support before losses deepen. They also called for investment in local fodder production such as drought resistant grasses and community managed feed reserves. Reducing dependence on imported feed additives is another priority. Experts say supporting local feed processing and encouraging use of local materials could ease pressure in the long run. For now families continue to adjust day by day. They count animals. They measure feed. They watch the weather. Decisions are made quietly within households often late at night. There are no dramatic scenes, No protests. Just a steady strain on a way of life that has endured for centuries.

Also In Nigeria, Local Rice Seed Shortage Disrupts Dry Season Farming Across Parts of Niger State. 

Rice farmers in several local government areas of Niger State are facing serious planting delays following an unexpected shortage of local rice seed varieties ahead of the dry season farming cycle, The affected areas include Wushishi Shiroro Lavun and parts of Katcha where dry season rice farming supports thousands of households and contributes significantly to food supply in the state. Farmers interviewed confirmed that commonly used local rice seeds such as Faro 44 and other adapted varieties are no longer available in sufficient quantities. Many farmers said they searched through multiple markets in Bida Minna and Lapai without success.

According to farmers the shortage began quietly in late November but became obvious by mid December when traders started rationing available stock or selling at sharply increased prices, A bag of rice seed that sold for an average of twelve thousand naira last season now sells for between twenty eight thousand and thirty five thousand naira where available. Some farmers said they were forced to reduce the size of their farms while others delayed planting entirely, A number of irrigation fields along the Kaduna River and smaller streams remain idle despite available water.

Local seed merchants blamed the shortage on low seed recovery from the last harvest, They said heavy flooding during the 2025 rainy season damaged many seed farms and reduced quality. Others pointed to increased demand from neighbouring states including Kebbi and Kwara. Officials of the Niger State Ministry of Agriculture confirmed awareness of the situation but said seed distribution under government programmes had not yet commenced.

One senior officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said budget delays affected early procurement and distribution of certified seed, Agricultural extension workers in the area warned that delayed planting could reduce overall dry season rice output and increase market prices later in the year. Small scale farmers are expected to be the most affected as larger commercial farms already secured seed supplies through private contracts. Farmers associations have called on the state government to urgently release seed reserves and support community seed multiplication to prevent further disruption.