Beliyu Abebe started farming ten years ago, following a path familiar to many smallholder dairy farmers in Ethiopia’s Aleltu District. The 47-year-old mother of four began with a simple but vital goal: to produce enough milk to feed her family, and then sell any surplus to supplement the household income.
Over the years, she maintained a small herd that today stands at six cows (two heifers and four mature cows). For a long time, she has struggled to move beyond subsistence. Her passion for dairy was never in question. “Dairy farming has always been my dream,” she says, “but for many years, I worked without proper knowledge, training or advisory support. My decisions were mostly based on assumptions rather than proven practices.”
Her dairy productivity remained modest at just over 3 litres of milk per cow per day, only slightly higher than Ethiopia’s national average of 2.1 litres. Like many others in her community, Beliyu faced a range of persistent challenges: poor barn conditions, recurring disease outbreaks (including mastitis and foot-and-mouth disease), rising feed costs and limited access to veterinary care or quality fodder.
“I was doing everything I could,” she recalls, “but my cows often got sick. Feed was expensive, and my barn was poorly built. I felt stuck because I didn’t know how to make things better.”
In 2023, Beliyu joined the Oromia Dairy Farmer Bounty project, a climate‑smart initiative with the World Bank, Solidaridad and local partners. Among 153 Aleltu farmers, she trained in cooperative management, Cow Signals and lactation‑curve management, applying skills in cow health cues, ration balancing and barn design.
Through the Dairy Farmer Bounty project co-investment, she upgraded her barn with cemented floors, improved drainage and ventilation and a separate feeding and watering station, contributing her own labour and materials.
“I am amazed to see how a good barn can change so much,” she says. “My cows are happier, healthier and more productive.”
Investing in Feed Security and Nutrition
To reduce her dependence on erratic feed markets, Beliyu also adopted improved forage practices. On a 0.125-hectare plot, she now grows her own vetch, oats and alfalfa. These crops provide high-protein fodder that ensures a consistent and nutritious feed supply throughout the year. Her first harvest came during the December–March season of 2024.
This, coupled with access to ration-formulated concentrated feed from the Aleltu Dairy Service Hub, has led to a significant improvement in milk yields, from an average of 3 litres to up to 16 litres per cow per day during peak periods. Of her herd, two cows are currently in milk, two are pregnant and the remaining two are heifers.
“Having a steady supply of feed changed everything,” she explains. “The health of my herd has improved, and I no longer worry about fluctuating market prices or poor-quality feed.”
Strengthening Market Access and Climate Resilience
Beliyu also benefits from the solar-powered infrastructure supported by the Oromia Dairy Farmer Bounty project. Every day, she delivers her milk to a nearby collection point in Aleltu, from where it is transported to a private processor whose chilling facility uses a solar-powered cooling and logistics system.
This has drastically reduced post-harvest spoilage and improved milk quality. “It’s hygienic, reliable and gives me confidence that my milk will reach buyers in good condition,” she says. “During peak production, I can deliver up to 16 litres a day without fear of losses.”
Through the hub, she also accesses veterinary support, extension services and direct communication with the hub manager. “Whenever I need help or advice, I know where to go,” she adds. “It’s made a big difference.”
Beyond individual gains, Beliyu’s story is also one of collective transformation. The project has catalyzed partnerships between the Dairy Hub and private sector actors such as Mamokach Dairy Processing PLC and ELFE Feed Processing PLC, improving access to affordable feed and expanding market opportunities.
These improvements have contributed to a doubling of milk prices in the area from ETB 35 (0.19 EUR) to ETB 77 (0.43 EUR) per litre, increasing household income and reinforcing the business case for dairy farming.
The Chaltu Dairy Cooperative, where Beliyu is a member, has grown significantly. In just two years, membership has expanded from 53 in 2023 to 153 in 2025, driven by greater transparency, better prices and shared learning among farmers. In 2025, Beliyu became the first woman elected to lead the cooperative, a milestone for gender inclusion and leadership in the dairy value chain. “When others saw the changes on my farm, they started asking questions. Then they asked me to lead,” she says, with quiet pride.
Similarly, the shift to climate‑smart farming is visible in how Beliyu manages dairy manure. A 6m³ biogas system installed on her farm now converts dairy manure into clean cooking gas. The bio-slurry, a nutrient-rich byproduct, is applied to her vegetable fields and fodder crops, reducing her dependence on firewood and chemical fertilizers.
“Now I cook with biogas and use the slurry on my farm,” she says. “My waste has become my energy and my fertilizer.”
This innovation has reduced household energy costs, improved soil fertility and contributed to lower carbon emissions, aligning with the project’s broader goals of climate adaptation and resilience.
Looking Ahead
Beliyu still sees room to grow. Her herd is made up of local breeds, and she is eager to adopt artificial insemination, having witnessed the productivity gap between her herd and those of farmers using the technique.
“With better genetics and continued support, I believe I can do even more,” she says.
Today, Beliyu’s farm is a place of learning. Other farmers visit regularly to observe her barn design, feeding systems and hygiene practices. Her story is a demonstration of how knowledge, partnership and targeted investment can turn subsistence farming into sustainable, climate-smart entrepreneurship, and illustrates how inclusive, evidence-based interventions can transform rural livelihoods. Access to dairy services, farmer training, improved feeding practices and stronger links to markets all help farmers improve productivity and stability. These changes also support more sustainable food systems and build climate resilience, particularly when local women are empowered to take the lead.
As more farmers adopt these practices, Ethiopia’s dairy sector moves one step closer to sustainable, market-driven growth.