Addis ababa: The Second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) participants praised Ethiopia's effort to ensure its food security. Participants of the UNFSS+4 being held in Addis Ababa visited Mojo Poultry Farm and Avocado Value Chains in Oromia region of Ethiopia today.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the participants were captivated by the efforts of the Ethiopian government to ensure food security and transform food systems of the country. Speaking to ENA, Levi Drera, a Kenyan participant, said that he was fortunate to have a chance to look at the poultry processing facility and avocado value chains in Mojo, Oromia region of Ethiopia. Drera witnessed that the government of Ethiopia is supporting value addition while ensuring food security and increasing the incomes of Ethiopians as well.
'I was lucky to be part of a group looking at poultry processing facility. The poultry farm which is owned by the government shows that Ethiopian government is supporting value addition and reduce the costs of life in the country, ensuring food security and income of the population,' he stated. The avocado value chains which are owned by the community is a good practice in enhancing the economy of the local community, he added, noting that the avocado farm is a great potential for domestic consumption and export sector which would build the economy of the country.
Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) Regional Representative, Yousaf Jogezai, praised the impressive community engagement as well as the commitment and investment of Ethiopian government towards the overall food system process of the country. The Ethiopian government encourages and established communities who come together to go a long way, particularly in the expansion of avocado farming in the region and beyond through creating amazing seedling process, he added.
"The avocado was not very common farming in this area previously; with this initiative, now people are growing avocado which help them in the nutrition status and they will contribute towards the overall food system process of the country,' he elaborated. On his part, Mission Green Bangladesh Communication Coordinator, Ifrat Hossain said that his visit was a fantastic experience to learn practices, knowledge, and challenges facing because of climate issues and working on it.
'It was a fantastic experience like we already visited two places, poultry farm and avocado value chains. We talked with the local farmers and how they are producing and how they are working on agriculture sector. We learned and gather some experience, knowledge and problems they are facing because of climate issues and we will work on it,' he noted. The government of Ethiopia is doing a commendable job in transforming the agriculture sector, he noted, emphasizing that he will push his government to do the same as Ethiopian government is doing to ensure its food security and improve the economy.
Co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy from July 27-29, 2015, in Addis Ababa, the summit is said to provide a platform for reflecting on progress, strengthening collaboration, and unlocking finance and investments to accelerate food systems transformation.