In drought-prone Eritrea, livestock is a farmer’s most valuable asset. Animal husbandry is not only one of the main sources of livelihood for farmers, but it is also a form of insurance that enables poor rural people to cope with drought and other disasters. IFAD-funded projects invest in rebuilding livestock and the agriculture sector, and help Eritrean farmers meet the challenges of climate change and its effects on their lives and their livelihoods. 

Agriculture, according to recent World Bank statistics, accounts for 18 per cent of Eritrea’s gross domestic product (GDP). Within the sector, livestock has a crucial role in generating food and income. Livestock also produces biogas, an affordable source of energy for both lighting and cooking. Animals provide draught power, they are used in transportation and threshing, and they are an invaluable source of organic fertilizer. Rural households, particularly those without access to rural roads, depend extensively on livestock to carry people,  water, firewood and goods of all kinds.