Ministry of Agriculture announced that Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture Activity has developed a ground-breaking Enset processing machine in partnership with Arba Minch University and local private companies.
During the launching program, Agriculture State Minister Meles Mekonen said this ground-breaking innovation of Enset processing machine has been developed by the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture Activity, Arba Minch University, and private companies.
According to him, this will effectively address one of the strategic issues identified during the preparation of the National Enset Development Flagship Program.
In 2021, the Government of Ethiopia launched the “Sodo Declaration” that focuses on the Enset value chain in 2021.
A National Enset Development Flagship Program (NEDFaP) wasthen developed to streamline strategic interventions to be implemented from 2023 to 2030, it was learned.
The general objective of the flagship program is to transform Enset research, prod
uction, processing and marketing into a robust, competitive, commercially oriented, and sustainably productiveindustry.
The state minister noted that Enset is not just a crop. It’s a cornerstone of food security in Ethiopia, especially in Sidama, Central, South West and Southern region of Ethiopia.
Enset’sremarkable resilience to drought and climate change makes it even more crucial in these times of environmental challenges.
The traditional way of Enset production, processing and consumption has long been hampered by labor-intensive methods, placing an unfair burden on women and girls who are primarily responsible for this difficult task.
Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture is a five-year, 67 million USD activity that seeks to influence and inspire the country’s agriculture and food system actors to sustainably improve the diets of 7 million people, particularly women and children living in 132 target woredas across the country.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Uwezo Fund disbursed cheques worth a total of Sh 740,000 to deserving youth and women groups in Bomet County.
The event, graced by the Bomet Central Assistant County Commissioner Rose Mirition on behalf of the area Deputy County Commissioner, marked a significant step towards empowering local communities and fostering economic growth.
The issuance of the Sh 740,000 in cheques implies a commitment from the government’s Bottom Up Transformation Agenda (BETA) to supporting small-scale businesses, women’s groups, and youth initiatives.
The Uwezo Fund aims to uplift these community projects, enabling them to thrive and contribute to the local economy.
Through initiatives like the Uwezo Fund, underrepresented communities are given the tools they need to succeed and prosper.
Director Japhet Turgut expressed his enthusiasm about the impact of the Uwezo Fund on grassroots initiatives, stating, ‘This initiative is a game-changer for these groups, providing them with the financial resources needed to realize their
full potential’.
‘Empowerment starts with a single act of financial and training support from the government. The ripple effect of support can transform lives and communities,’ explained Rugut.
By providing financial assistance to grassroots groups, the Uwezo Fund not only empowers individuals but also spurs economic growth at the community level. The impact of these funds goes beyond monetary value, igniting a sense of hope and determination among beneficiaries.
With the support of the Uwezo Fund, local initiatives have the opportunity to flourish and make a tangible difference in their communities.
Funds issued on this remarkable day serve as a beacon of progress and a testament to the power of collective empowerment.
Since its inception, the Fund has disbursed more than Sh7.2 billion countrywide and directly supported 1,124,221 beneficiaries of which 69% are female and 31% male through the provision of affordable and accessible credit, capacity building on entrepreneurship skills, basics on bookkeepin
g and market linkages and networking.
Source: Kenya News Agency