Addis Ababa, A workshop on the significance of moringa in improving rural livelihood through supporting the moringa value chain development in Ethiopia was held today.
Speaking on the occasion, Institute of Ethiopian Standards (IES) Development Lead Executive Yilma Mengistu said that granting quality standards plays significant role to recognize and promote a product.
Therefore, IES has been working closely with stakeholders in granting quality standards for morniga products with the view to enhancing its multifaceted significance.
Yilma said moringa powder and moringa tea have been granted quality standards, adding that this enables the producers to supply quality products to the local market and to ensure export standards of the moringa products.
Moringa product standardization would also play a significant role in food fortifying and strategic, he noted.
UNIDO Regional Hub in Ethiopia Director, Aurelia Calabro said that her organization has been working in collaboration with Ethiopia’s pertinent bodies to cultivate moringa crop.
She added that various supports have been extended to bolster rural women’s development by providing technical assistance, skill development and promoting the moringa value chain.
According to her, moringa has, for instance, been cultivated on 30 hectare of land and a processing unit established in Arbaminch Woreda to benefit rural farmers primarily women.
The national moringa value chain development project was initiated in 2015 in response to a request of the Ethiopian government and the first phase has been completed.
Now, the second phase is launched, the director revealed.
She further said the objectives of the project include enhancing sustainable moringa production and productivity, improving value addition through the processing and marketing of moringa products, strengthening the nutrition-sensitive moringa value chain, and improving knowledge dissemination about the intervention areas.
Calabro noted that moringa-based products offer economic opportunities, empowering women and youth and generating income.
The global market for moringa products is also expanding due to increased awareness of its health benefits
Source: Ethiopian News Agency