Gender Mainstreaming in NuME Project
New maize-type-paved pathway to improve protein intake in Ethiopia
By Seifu Mahifere
For community health extension workers (CHWs) in Ethiopia as elsewhere, educating smallholder farmers on the importance of protein is a continuous task year in year out. And it is not that the farmers do not know of its importance. The big problem has been affordable protein within the reach and means of smallholder farmers. Now, however, life is getting easier for CHWs in Ethiopia thanks to quality protein maize (QPM), a pioneering technology developed several decades ago by CIMMYT scientists (see here and here). QPM is the first biofortified crop improved for its protein quality. Biofortified crops are particularly appropriate for combating under-nutrition in rural households that mostly consume their own produce and prepare traditional foods using these staples. QPM is now being widely promoted in the country by CIMMYT’s Nutritious Maize for Ethiopia (NuME) project in collaboration with many national partners.
Ethiopian Seed Company Managers Express Interest in QPM, Seek CIMMYT Support
By Seifu Mahifere
Managers of private and public seed companies in Ethiopia have expressed interest to produce and broadly market quality protein maize (QPM) seed, provided that they get technical and other necessary support from NuME.
Ethiopian Government Adopts Quality Protein Maize Scale-Out Plan
August 8, 2014
The Ethiopian government has embarked on a new initiative to improve nutritional security in the country through the widespread demonstration and use of quality protein maize (QPM), a type of maize that contains enhanced levels of protein. The new government initiative is a high-level endorsement of CIMMYT’s five-year Nutritious Maize for Ethiopia (NuME) project.
http://blog.cimmyt.org/ethiopian-government-adopts-quality-protein-maize-scale-out-plan/