Worancha ወራንቻ

Abstract Enset is an essential plant for the Ethiopian Sidama system of agropastoralism. Sidama agropastoralism and the folk taxonomy of enset is presented here in ethnographic context. One of several societies of Ethiopia’s enset complex, the highland Sidama are among the most wholly reliant on enset and maintain more enset varieties in their gardens than other groups. Sidama agro-pastoral systems revolve around human-enset-cattle interaction: Sidama eat low-protein parts of enset; cattle eat high-protein parts of enset; Sidama get protein from dairy; Sidama fertilize enset with cattle manure. In the Sidama language, enset offers an example of Hunn’s generic elevation within the framework of Berlinian perceptual-taxonomic theory. Weesho (enset) may serve both as a folk generic taxon and a life-form taxon depending on the frame of reference. Such expansion allows for an intermediate taxa translating to “male” or “female” ensets, followed by generic and specific taxa for kinds o

Smallholder coffee producers working with the IFAD-funded Agricultural Marketing Improvement Programme (AMIP) are proud of having helped to transform the Ethiopian coffee value chain, making it inclusive and efficient. In less than seven years, the programme has established eight coffee "liquoring" or tasting centres, the first of their kind in rural areas, and provided the necessary equipment and training to Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) staff. Thanks to these interventions, today the coffee tasting centres offer internationally recognized coffee grading and trading services.   In collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia, the ECX provides cooperatives with continuous feedback on the quality and grade of their coffee. This has enabled smallholder producers to improve processes along the entire coffee value chain, including the picking, washing and drying of coffee beans. In this way they have improved the quality and value of the coffee beans that they harve

Ethiopia’s famous Onion-shaped bamboo houses of the Sidama people in southern Ethiopia are just one example of effective but traditional construction with bamboo, one that has been used for centuries, and one that is becoming increasingly popular as lodges for tourists. In many countries, bamboo has been used for housing for millenia, albeit not always as attractive and cosy as the Sidama houses. href=”http://www.inbar.int/2014/11/building-the-future-of-sub-saharan-africa-with-bamboo/ethiopia-bamboo-house/” rel=”attachment wp-att-3254″> In recent years, bamboo housing has developed in leaps and bounds – the use of prefabricated bamboo boards has been tested for houses in India and China amongst others, and modern laminated blocks of bamboo wood that can be shaped as can timber are also increasingly used. But it’s the round-pole bamboo houses that impress, with their natural round shape and slight variation, and natural “organic”, warm colours that offer a relaxing homely p

Microsoft  has announced today that Office 365 is now available in nine new markets, making the service available in a total of 140 markets. Office 365 brings together the Microsoft Office productivity suite, including Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online, coupled with an always-up-to-date cloud service and an affordable monthly subscription. "In the past five years, that vision has expanded across the globe - from 40 markets in 2011 to 88 markets in 2012 to 127 markets in 2013. And today that number grows to 140. We are proud to announce that O365 is now available commercially to customers in the following nine new markets: Afghanistan, Botswana, Ethiopia, Namibia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia," Microsoft stated in an official blog post. Microsoft also revealed today that Office 365 will be available for non-profits (direct only) in Cyprus, Estonia, and Paraguay. You can check out the entire list of markets  with Office 365 he

OPINION By  Dr. Haile Michael Mamo Ethiopia  has a long history of showing solidarity with other African countries on strategic issues. Ethiopian peacekeepers were sent to United Nations missions since the 1950s and more recently to crisis spots in Africa such as South Sudan, Somalia, and Rwanda. Ethiopia feels a distinct responsibility for Africa as it is a founding member of the  African Union ( AU) and its capital Addis Ababa has been the seat of the African Union (formerly the OAU) since its founding in 1963. Successive Ethiopian governments have embarked on Pan African missions despite the economic difficulty in the country indicating how important it is for Ethiopia to take a stand on important Pan African matters. Last week, the  Ethiopian Ministry of Health   announced its decision to  momentarily send 210 health workers  – doctors, nurses, and public health professionals – to  Ebola  affected West African countries where over 4,900 people have so far died to help comba