The Southwest Ethiopia Peoples' Region Agriculture Bureau is intensifying efforts to leverage enset production as a cornerstone of food security. Enset, often called the "false banana," is a versatile crop with far-reaching benefits beyond merely feeding communities.

According to Tesfaye Gebremichael, Director of Horticulture Crops Development and Protection at the bureau, the region is actively working to boost enset yields. In the 2017 Ethiopian budget year (corresponding to 2024/2025 Gregorian calendar), a substantial 115,000 hectares of enset were ready for harvest.

However, a significant challenge remains: only 35,110 hectares of this ripe enset has been collected. Tesfaye highlighted a key hurdle: the traditional practice of limiting enset harvesting solely to women is a major bottleneck in the process.

To address this, the bureau plans to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to modernize traditional harvesting methods. The goal is to ensure that all enset produced in the region is efficiently utilized to bolster food security.

Tesfaye also issued a call to action, urging local communities to actively participate in increasing enset production, thereby contributing to the region's overall food security initiatives, according to FBC.