On December 12, 2023, Wolaita Sodo in Ethiopia played host to the Regional Multi-Stakeholder Forum on avocado, moringa, and mango Market Systems. The event was coordinated by Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia and brought together a diverse range of representatives from government, UN agencies, the private sector, farmer cooperatives, NGOs, community representatives, and academia.
The forum aimed to foster collaboration and discussion among these various stakeholders, with a focus on the avocado, moringa, and mango market systems. A key goal was to progress the establishment of a coordination platform linking the different actors involved with these three products.
An Ayuda en Acción study highlighted challenges such as traditional production systems, limited market access, low productivity, high post-harvest losses, socioeconomic barriers for women, and restricted access to quality services.
Despite its agricultural diversity, the Wolaita Zone faces significant poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition, impacting local livelihoods. Many households experience food shortages for several months each year, even in non-disaster years.
Source: reliefweb.int