Ethiopia is one of the countries whose potential for sustainable economic growth lies within the agriculture sector. The country has significant potential with vast agricultural land, fertile soil, and moderate climatic condition specifically that support the dairy milk processing sector. Dairy farming is essential to most developing economies, including Ethiopia, due to its contribution to livelihoods in terms of food supply, income and employment generation.

HopeChest Ethiopia developed the idea of helping families have a successful, sustainable income by including them in various revenue generating activities. The dairy farm industry is one of the more common businesses the organization has chosen to meet that goal. HopeChest Ethiopia has already been giving individual households the ability to buy cattle, begin milk production, and sell their products in the local market. The decision to establish a dairy farm with comprehensive services was made after the assessment of the success of each family’s individual business. The larger opportunity was recognized for the business to increase family income, and increase quality and quantity of production. Additionally, the opportunity to cover a wider market area rather than concentrating only on the local market is advisable. There will also be an ability to provide a high quality veterinary service, and facilitate modern scientific insemination.

The main goal of this project is to build a large dairy farm that can begin producing milk. This farm will process the milk produced there on site and milk collected from each household at a better price. Milk will then be processed in the processing center to create various milk byproducts, which will be distributed both domestically and abroad. The center’s current anticipated total cost is approximately 5 million USD. The construction and completion of the project will be divided into phases in order to construct the center. The goal of Phase 1 is $377,000, and $126,000 is needed to begin construction and break ground. Each donation will provide for the heifer(s), transportation cost (including loading/unloading), and one year of feed.