It is not a common trend for people to move from city life to the countryside to reside or work there. Especially, when it is to remote areas where there are limited amnesties, the move will be much difficult and testing to one’s energy and strength.
However, for Rahel Hiruy, who outweighs the natural blessings of the areas and gives due attention to nature, the challenges that come following shortcomings of the infrastructure were not as demanding.
Even though she was born and raised in the capital, Addis Ababa, it never restricted her from moving to the rural part of the country where there is limited amnesties. In areas where others might see shortcomings, Rahel sees opportunity—a chance to reconnect with nature and embrace life in rural areas.
Thus, deciding to follow her ambition, she moved to the rural part of the country, Kaffa Bench -Shako Zone. Her determination, in turn, benefited five thousand mothers to have job opportunities and generate income through introducing new a work culture.
Mainly by encouraging mothers and young people at Kaffa Bench Shako zones to grow different types of spices in their farmyard and supplying improved seeds as well as the needed backing, she helped them to be self-reliant financially. Most of all, as encouragement and market strategy, after the produces are produced, she buys them from the farmers and re-supply to the market.
Rahel attended her primary and secondary education at “Hiwot Birhan” School, here in Addis Ababa. She also earned her first degree in the field of Pharmacy and served in her profession till a senior pharmacist level.
With the hope to realize her passion, and to be successful in the field of spice and agriculture sector, which she is currently engaged in, she took training at various times and earned her second degree in ‘Agribusiness Administration’.
As she stated to EPA, Rahel, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Damascene Essential Oil Processing PLC and a pioneering figure in the area of spice farming, the reason that drives her to engage in spice business was to be part of the solution and close the gaps witnessed in traditional medicines and beauty products.
“Our traditional medicines are often prepared haphazardly. We never preserve and keep them accordingly. Even, we never work in a manner to reach the global market,” she said.
To this end, she pointed out the significance of working committedly and passionately to promote the area thereby increasing the revenue generated from the spice sector.
Rahel gives special attention to the value of traditional knowledge that is passed down through generations. “Our mothers have their own traditional knowledge. For this reason, at Kaffa, we brought together mothers from each kebele to tap into their untapped expertise and to identify the best types of leaf species for spices. Based on their, expertise, we multiply and bring to the community for planting. Today, many women are growing rosemary, Koseret, ginger, and lemonade in their yards,” she said
Thus, utilizing the traditional knowledge she grasped from the community, she has established nurseries and working on species. Thus far, she set up around six nurseries. “Now the women have familiarized themselves with the activities and they are growing seedlings by themselves and sharing with each other. The government is also distributing the seedlings purchasing from us,” she added.
Mentioning that in earlier times, cardamom was not popular among the people in the area, she said however following the work done, it is now sold at the specialty level.
These days, it seems that to some extent Rahel’s effort is bearing fruit in producing and introducing the spice products to the world. Even though she had started her business by involving 20 farmers, today, she can increase the number and involve five thousand women farmers in Kaffa Zone.
Currently, engaging in over two thousand hectares of land, she is working in five woredas of the Kaffa Zone and two woredas of the Bench Shako. She is producing and supplying 15 types of spices and herbs for the local market. Her company is engaged in the production and supply of essential oils, herbs, spices and other body care products.
Further, expanding her destinations, she is operating at Bench Shako Zone. In addition, her company is supplying spice products to two countries. She is also striving to expand her market destinations and export spice produces to various countries in a sustainable manner by increasing the number of farmers, and her spice produces in quantity and variety.
Her efforts and dedication also earned her recognition not only at the national but also at the continental level – she has been awarded at the continental level in the category of effective farmer women, and as an entrepreneur at the national level. Moreover, it led her to participate as a consultant at some governmental organizations in annual plan preparations.
In fact, the success that Rahel achieved so far was not gained simply or without challenges. Rather she encountered many challenges. For instance, even though her company was established in 2013 with the target of producing beauty cosmetics, it was challenged to move at its plan due to a shortage of raw materials. That was why it entered to the agriculture sector aiming to produce and supply raw materials to the market.
While talking the steps that should be taken to advance the sector, she said: “research institutions should play a key role in this work. According to her, by combining modern research with local knowledge, it is possible to ensure that these spices are accessible to a wider population and generate considerable income.
Looking ahead, Rahel aspires to expand her spice business internationally, and meet to the needs of customers across different markets. “My next goal is to supply spice products to many countries in a way that meets customer demands. I have also a plan to continue conducting research in this sector.” she said.
She also urged financial institutions to support her work by facilitating loans for further expansion.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2024
