A two-day workshop held at Arba Minch University (AMU), Ethiopia, from September 4 - 5, 2024, united stakeholders from Ethiopia and abroad. The workshop was supported by SLU Global Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and aimed to bridge knowledge gaps and boost livelihoods through the development of the Moringa platform. Click here to see more photos.
Dr. Tewodros Berhanu, Dean of the College of Natural and Computational Sciences at AMU, welcoming the guests and opening the workshop officially, underscored the significance of Moringa as a "miracle tree". He emphasized the need for comprehensive studies to explore its benefits, particularly in Africa where it is widely cultivated.
Behailu Merdekios (Assoc. Professor), Vice President for Research and Community Engagement at AMU, delivered the keynote address emphasizing the vital role of Moringa in empowering smallholder farmers and boosting the national economy. This tree holds immense promises for poverty reduction and improvement of livelihoods, he stressed. By working together, we can strengthen research capabilities, contribute to community well-being, and advance scientific knowledge making Moringa a vital engine for sustainable development, he remarked.
Dr. Erik Alexandersson from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) presented on the potential of AgriBiologicals to enhance agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. He discussed the push for reducing pesticide use and the need for low-risk crop protection strategies tailored for smallholder farmers. His research revealed a gap in the adoption of biological alternatives despite a positive attitude among farmers towards their benefits.
Dr. Shetie Gatew; Director of AMU-BRCC, provided insights into the Moringa Platform project which seeks to build a research and development network between Sweden and East and South African partners. He stressed the necessity for collective efforts to overcome fragmented research and promote sustainable practices.
Sajeevan R. Sivarajan also from SLU Global introduced the "Moringa Platform" project, outlining a collaborative framework for promoting sustainable Moringa cultivation and utilization across the region.
Presentations from researchers across Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia shared experiences and challenges in Moringa cultivation. Dr. Awoke Guadie, the workshop's initiator, discussed Ethiopia's unique perspective, emphasizing the nutritional and herbal advantages of Moringa. The workshop included plenary sessions that encouraged participants to discuss survey results, analyze data, and strategize future directions. Among the topics included building a stronger network, competing for grants, and signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between universities.
The workshop got concluded with remarks from Dr. Anna Manourova (SLU) and Dr. Awoke Guadie (AMU), thanking participants for their contributions said that the event has had a significant step towards developing a robust Moringa platform in East and South Africa focusing on sustainability and improved livelihoods through collaborative research.
Participants identified key priorities for future research; including enhancing collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders; addressing fragmented research and knowledge gap’s in Moringa utilization and also promoting sustainable Moringa cultivation practices to maximize benefits for communities. By bridging the gaps, the Moringa platform aims to unlock the full potential of this "miracle tree," contributing to sustainable agricultural development and improved livelihoods.
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