Recognizing the critical role of nutrition in livestock productivity, the office is actively engaged in developing high-quality animal feed tailored to the specific needs of local livestock. This project is implemented in collaboration with local farmers, providing them with training and technical assistance on forest land and rangeland management, controlling bush encroachment, forest and rangeland rehabilitation, and the establishment and management of forage.

The project aims to develop forage production, innovation and conservation, and marketing conserved forage (hay) in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities to enhance livestock productivity. It also seeks to create awareness among farmers, pastoralists, and agro-pastoralists about the importance of forest land and rangeland management, controlling bush encroachment, rehabilitation, and sustainable forage production systems.

Through this project, it is anticipated that the south-western part of Ethiopia will witness an improvement in livestock productivity, leading to increased incomes for farmers and a positive impact on the local economy.

This project is designed to enhance practical training for students from the university's Animal Sciences department, local farmers, and the broader community. With a focus on producing high-value human food — including fresh milk and live animals — the project seeks to improve local nutrition and provide breeding stock at affordable prices.

Key objectives include the transfer of modern dairy production technologies to the community, training opportunities in various aspects of dairy farming, and the overall transformation of traditional production systems into modern practices. This initiative is expected to generate excess products for market supply while creating employment opportunities within the region.

Enset is a crucial staple food for approximately 20 million Ethiopians, representing 25% of the country's population. The edible parts — mainly the corm and pseudostem — are processed into kocho, a starch-rich product that can be stored for long periods and helps alleviate hunger during food shortages.

This traditional enset-based farming system is prevalent in southern and southwestern Ethiopia and is noted for its medicinal properties, including healing fractures and treating various ailments. Enset is highly resilient to drought, offers high productivity, contributes to soil preservation, and minimizes erosion — making it an essential crop for food security and sustainable agriculture in Ethiopia.

It attracts farmers for its efficiency, producing more food with fewer inputs than other staples.

The project aims to conserve and genetically enhance the indigenous Sheko cattle, native to Ethiopia's southwestern Bench Sheko Zones, which are valued for their resilience and significance to local communities. Launched in 2008 through a collaboration between Mizan-Tepi University and the Federal Biodiversity Institute, the project has progressed through three phases.

The project collaborates with seven local cooperative societies and involves breeding designated Sheko bulls, demonstrating a commitment to preserving genetic diversity and promoting sustainable practices.

The Community-Based Breeding Program (CBBP) at Mizan-Tepi University, in collaboration with ICARDA, was established in 2022. It aims to improve the genetic quality and productivity of indigenous sheep breeds in the Benchi Sheko and West Omo Zones of Southwest Ethiopia, thereby benefiting local livelihoods and promoting agricultural sustainability.

To facilitate effective implementation, two CBBP centers have been established in Maji Woredas, supported by local committee leaders. The primary objectives include showcasing the Maji sheep breed nationally, enhancing breeding practices, increasing sheep farming productivity, and creating a self-managed breeding system. Additionally, the CBBP is expanding to the Bench Sheko Zone with a new breeding center in Semen Bench Woreda, where data collection is underway to measure the program's impact.