Source:  News Release

Horses, donkeys and mules - a lifeline for rural and urban poor in Ethiopia

A new report out today shows how working horses, donkeys and mules are throwing a lifeline to rural and urban communities, especially women, in Ethiopia.
“This study shows that working equine animals can reduce the burden for women while at the same time offering households an opportunity to generate income and improve food security, helping to reduce poverty,” said Suzan Bishop, Ethiopia country director of the Brooke, an international animal welfare organization dedicated to improving the lives of working equine animals in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Ethiopia has the third largest equine population in the world with around eight million horses, donkeys and mules while 83% of Ethiopia’s population live in rural areas and are primarily engaged in agriculture. (Central Statistics Agency, Ethiopian Government, 2010).

In the report, at least 40% of households surveyed said donkeys helped reduce women’s work while all communities said equine animals were economically important for rural and urban communities for all wealth groups.

“Put simply, the income derived from equine animals allows people to buy tools and grain, clothing and shoes, as well as offering families the chance to pay for schooling for their children,” said Berhanu Admassu, co-author of the Brooke’s report.

“With this in mind, it is important that resources are invested by existing institutions to support the use of equine animals,” he added.

Donkeys are used to transport everything from people to building materials, playing a vital role as ambulance services in some communities.

The average household net return from equine ownership and use was 4419 ETB (330 USD) per annum. Income derived from the use of equines accounted for 14% of total income across the three woredas studied (compared to only 13% of total income generated from other livestock).

Despite their contribution, donkeys often suffer from feed shortages, poor health, low status and poor husbandry leading to a reduced work output and loss of income for owners. Overloading and overworking, together with poor roads and shelter were also reported as major problems.

The study concluded that for subsistence agriculture, highly susceptible to climatic risk, diversification into non-farm activities could be the most appropriate solution.

“The Brooke is working to increase national and international recognition of the role of working equines in poverty alleviation, supporting sustainable livelihoods and the national economy,” added Suzan Bishop.

“We hope this study raises awareness about the importance of equine animals and contributes to the debate about their value.”