In the dry plains of South Omo, Ethiopia, Shawiki Wale spends his days caring for his animals. On a daily basis, he guides his goats to green pastures for grazing, attends to their health with steady care and ensures they have ample access to water. Like generations before him, these animals are more than just livestock, they are his life and livelihood.
For years, this routine remained unchanged. Shawiki had control over the rhythm of his daily life. However, for all those same years, one thing remained entirely out of his control: the prices he received at market. These were shaped by factors beyond his influence.
Today, something small but powerful has begun to shift that reality.
Standing beside his herd, Shawiki takes out his mobile phone and scans a tiny ear tag attached to a goat’s ear. Instantly, detailed information appears: birth date, vaccination history and health records.
This is part of Ethiopia’s new Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS). Through simple ear tags linked to mobile technology, livestock can now be registered, tracked and verified throughout their lifecycle. What was once based on memory and informal systems is now backed by transparency and real data.
“It’s like each animal has its own identity,” Shawiki explains. “Now, buyers trust what we are selling and we benefit from that.”
LITS is one component of the project, Capacity building to upgrade the livestock value chain in Ethiopia, launched by UNIDO, China and Ethiopia in 2021. This system has now transformed each animal from a simple source of income into a documented asset, connecting farmers to markets, providing insurance and loan acess and opportunities far beyond any village.
Click here to see more...