Amaranth, a highly versatile plant valued for its seeds and leaves, offers substantial nutritional and medicinal benefits, yet remains underutilized in Ethiopia. Although traditionally known in regions like Southwest Ethiopia, Konso, and Hawassa, it has the potential to improve food security and income generation if integrated into the national food system and produced on a larger scale.
Amaranth Farm Ecolodge suggests that fully utilizing this crop could integrate it into traditional food systems, creating opportunities for women and youth while enhancing national food security. Other countries have already harnessed amaranth’s potential, providing a model that Ethiopia could follow.
Mulunesh Jebessa, co-founder and Executive Director of Amaranth Farm Ecolodge, is dedicated to promoting amaranth as a climate-smart, nutrient-rich crop. As a social entrepreneur and environmental advocate, she champions sustainable practices, eco-friendly tourism, and women’s empowerment through nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
In a discussion with The Ethiopian Herald, Mulunesh noted that despite amaranth’s use for both human and animal consumption, it remains largely neglected. She believes that scaling up its production and incorporating it into staple foods could transform Ethiopia’s food system and help tackle malnutrition. “Our aim is to integrate amaranth into traditional meals alongside other nutritious foods like cabbage, yam, and cassava,” she said, adding that processed amaranth products could serve as emergency food for vulnerable groups, such as migrants.
Mulunesh and her team are working to build partnerships with international organizations to exchange knowledge and promote amaranth-based food systems. She also emphasized raising awareness about amaranth’s high protein and micronutrient levels, positioning it as a valuable subsistence crop that thrives alongside maize.
Amaranth Farm Ecolodge, as a women-led organization, is not only focused on food security but also on empowering women economically. “We are committed to making women catalysts for change in the green economy,” said Mulunesh, stressing the importance of including women, youth, and people with disabilities in climate action initiatives to ensure inclusivity and sustainability.
Her organization also promotes solar-powered innovations, such as solar pumps and energy-saving technologies, as part of its climate action initiatives. Mulunesh believes these solutions can help communities adopt sustainable practices and improve their livelihoods.
She calls for collaborative efforts to scale up women-led innovations, building a sustainable food system while addressing the interconnected challenges of nutrition, climate action, and social inclusion.
