AMU’s partner Alabaster International team has visited the Progress of the Collaborative Research Project entitled ‹‹ Evaluation and promotion of cultivated and wild ENSET for climate change adaptations and utilization through value addition and industrialization of products in Ethiopia and Kenya ›› being executed in partnership with Alabaster International, AMU, EBI, JKUAT, and the Girl Child Network from April 15-19, 2024. Click here to see more photos.
The three-year project, commenced on November 1, 2023, is primarily executed by Arba Minch University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with funding exceeding $100,000 and provided by Alabaster International and the Girl Child Network.
During a recent visit to Arba Minch University, Dr. Shannon Rubera, Founder and CEO of Alabaster International, emphasized the organization's dedication to empowering indigenous women through initiatives focused on food security, entrepreneurship, and healthcare. She noted that the delegation focused on evaluating the advancement of the Enset research project and extending support to women embarking on Enset crafts businesses.
Dr. Shannon expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved, acknowledging the contributions of Dr. Sabura, Dr. Addisu, Dr. Gezahegn, and the university's leadership. She foresees the potential role of Enset in alleviating global hunger, particularly in East Africa, and underscored the significance of the collaboration with AMU for utilizing this potential. Furthermore, she outlined plans to broaden the partnership to encompass healthcare endeavors, with particular focus on dealing with the role of Enset for women and health.
Dr. Tesfaye Habtemariam, Director of AMU's Executive Research Directorate, highlighted Enset's potential as a staple food beyond Ethiopia, citing its nutritional richness and drought resilience. He stressed the importance of such trans-boundary collaborative projects in raising international awareness of Enset's nutritional value and strengthening diplomatic relations. Dr. Tesfaye also emphasized the significant role of women in Enset processing noting that efforts within such projects will promote recognition and equitable benefits for women.
Dr. Sabura Shara, the Principal Investigator of the research project, emphasized on the project’s multifaceted significance, which unites five institutions across three countries for a common objective. He mentioned that the primary objective of the project is to generate and disseminate novel knowledge aimed at advancing Enset cultivation in Ethiopia and exploring the potential in East Africa, and beyond. Dr. Sabura further explained that the project employs diverse scientific methodologies to evaluate the nutritional composition, drought tolerance, and disease resistance of both cultivated and wild Enset species in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Currently, various cultivated and wild Ensete ventricosum have been collected and established in experimental sites and greenhouse across Ethiopia and Kenya as part of the project's ongoing activities. Additionally, he added that, six Master's and PhD students from AMU and JKUAT have received project support to conduct their research on Enset, with their investigations currently underway at established experimental sites, greenhouse and laboratories.
Dr. Addisu Fikadu, Arba Minch university biotechnology researcher and Enset project coordinator, emphasized the benefits of cooperating with Alabaster International, particularly in terms of empowering women in Enset production. Dr. Addisu highlighted a collaborative initiative with an organization in which Dorze women received intensive 15-day training on how to make value-added items from Enset fiber. As a result, these women organized in an association, gained legal permissions, secured work and sales locations, and began production. Their initial goods have been transferred to Alabaster International for marketing in the USA. Dr. Addisu announced plans to work with Alabaster International to establish a new Enset processing center at Chencha Zuria Woreda, Tsida Kebele.
At the conclusion of the tour, AMU presented Alabaster International and all delegates with a certificate and Dorze community gave a gift of appreciation for their substantial efforts made so far.
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