EPA/ORDA Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plan under Construction

Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant financed by Federal Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in collaboration with Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) is under construction in Deberetabor town.

Ato Wabi Tesfaye, senior horticultural development officer in ORDA, told to Emerta Quarterly Newsletter that the construction of the Fruit and Vegetable Processing plant in environs is extremely essential to creating a sustainable market for apple products as well as for vegetable and lowland fruit harvests in East Este, LayGaint and Farta districts. And, to boosting the fruit and vegetable production in future

Ato Wabi elaborated on ORDA's relentless efforts to extensively introduce and increase apple production in North & South Gondar as well as in North Wollo Administrative Zones on the orchards of the beneficiaries'. Besides increasing income and benefits from its nutritional and attractive market value, he further added that, apple trees being permanent trees fits importance for environmental protection cannot be overlooked.

The senior officer indicated that over 1,080 residents in ten kebeles of three districts are expected to become direct beneficiaries from the processing Plant which ORDA is undertaking the construction of the Processing Plant at a cost of over 1.7 million birr on 2,400 square meter of land obtained from Debertabor Municipality Administration.

The officer further explained that the Processing Plant would be expected to be managed and guided by young cooperative members drawn from project Kebeles of South Gondar Zone. Soon, after the completion of the processing plant installation, he said, 34 (of 14 females) young producers would able to secure permanent jobs.

The Senior officer stressed that the youths would become beneficiaries from the job created and through the process that they will become strong supporter of the environmental protection works through small amount of financial donation contributed by themselves and the finance would be utilized by zonal governmental offices for environmental protection activities which would ultimately support the developmental efforts of the area.

In an effort to rehabilitate the environmental degradation of Guna mountains and its surroundings it is noted that, in connection with this problem the peasants of locality in collaboration with various Governmental and Non-governmental organizations are exerting their utmost effort to avoid the depletion of Natural Resources on and around Guna mountains and to solve the economic crisis created as a result.