Addis Ababa, 17 June 2026 (Ministry of Agriculture)
The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with SNV has officially institutionalized and launched the Dairy Farm Schools (DFS) extension framework. The schools aim to enhance agricultural extension service delivery to boost dairy production and productivity across Ethiopia.
Through this collaborative initiative, SNV has established over 4,590 DFS reaching more than 82,600 farmers nationwide.
One of the prominent projects under this support is the Bridge Plus project which plays a pivotal role in advancing dairy development through DFS. The project is being implemented across four regions—Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, and Central Ethiopia.
The DFS approach is structured around the lactation cycle of dairy cows and guided by the “Six Cow Comfort Diamonds”— air, light, feed, water, rest, and space—which are reinforced through Cow Signals Observations.
Farmers are trained on these concepts through a combination of household-level coaching and group-based learning sessions.
To ensure the sustainability of this model, a validation workshop on the institutionalization of the DFS extension approach has been conducted with stakeholder engagement. The workshop brought together key actors to refine and solidify the implementation strategy.
Speaking at the launching event of DFS, State Minister of Agriculture, Fikru Regassa (PhD), noted that SNV’s contributions, particularly in improving dairy cattle sheltering and animal feed supply, have been significant.
He emphasized that these efforts directly align with the government’s strategic development direction.
According to Dr. Fikru, 25,000 dairy villages have been established nationwide and national efforts focus on transforming the dairy sector through genetic improvement, enhanced supply of feed, and improved veterinary health services.
He further stated that while Ethiopia is home to 70 million cattle, maximizing the economic benefits requires adoption of improved technologies.
On the occasion, SNV Program Director, Yetnayet Girmaw highlighted the project’s ongoing support in ensuring sustainable dairy transformation.
She emphasized that SNV will continue to empower farmers, build robust dairy development institutions, and expand the reach and impact of DFS across the country.
Reporter: Bahiru Setegne
Photographer: Matiwos Tegegn
