25 December 2007
Addis Ababa — A rice processing center established in Fogera Woreda in South Gonder Zone of Amhara State at a cost of 76.287 USD was inaugurated on Saturday.
The project, funded by the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human security projects (GGP) was designed to provide assistance to development projects implemented by non-profit organizations and local government, Embassy of Japan in Addis Ababa said in a statement.
A grant contract was signed between the Embassy of Japan and the Quhar Farmers Multi purposes Cooperative, for the construction of the rice centre for the said amount, which was equivalent to 662,328.48 ETB at that time According to the statement, the grant money was used to construct a Farmers Cooperative Center, a small kiosk and a hand dug well; to purchase necessary furniture for the center (4 desks and 8 chairs), a rice thresher, two rice mills and flour mil; and to extend the electric line to the center.
The project was technically supported by an: International NGO called Sasakawa Africa Association, the statement said adding that the rice producers were not fully benefiting from the rice production due to the lack of agro-processing technology.
This project is to support the efforts of the Quhar Farmers Cooperative to strengthen the post-harvest handling for the rice.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony Japanese ambassador to Ethiopia, Kinchi Komano reiterated his government's commitment to assist the most vulnerable and marginalized people in Ethiopia through GGP.
The process is used for not only rice, but also chili pepper, Shiro and other locally grown crops farmers can sell at their new kiosk in Woreta town, as part of efforts to line agricultural production to the market through value adding, according to the statement.
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