Latest news with #Tadesse
The Star
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Feature: How an Ethiopian entrepreneur turns fungus into fortune?
by Xinhua writers Habtamu Worku, Liu Fangqiang ADDIS ABABA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- In the highlands of Ethiopia, a local entrepreneur's fascination with mushrooms has sparked a surprising culinary movement, reshaping local diets and creating new economic opportunities. Mikias Tadesse, 29, recalled how his mushroom curiosity turned his life around, from a truck driver to a successful mushroom farmer, ultimately promoting a culinary change in Ethiopia. Tadesse's curiosity began about three years ago upon his first encounter with a fleshy cluster of sprouted mushrooms in the backyard of a Chinese road construction camp in a remote village in southern Ethiopia. "Intrigued by a sight foreign to my Ethiopian culinary experience and out of curiosity, I decided to try a mushroom dish prepared by the Chinese chefs. To my surprise, I really enjoyed the dish," said Tadesse. Tadesse also found the vast potential of mushrooms to diversify Ethiopia's culinary landscape and bolster food security, thanks to their ease of cultivation and quick harvest cycle. He then discussed the idea of starting mushroom cultivation with his Chinese colleagues. "Their response was immediate and very encouraging. They fully supported my business idea and promised to assist me in this new venture." "From the very beginning, the Chinese agricultural experts have been the lifeline of my mushroom farm. They provided me with extensive technical knowledge through hands-on training and material support, including quality spawns that are necessary to navigate the delicate process of fungal cultivation," he said. Tadesse's biggest challenge, however, was the public's unfamiliarity with mushrooms in Ethiopia. "I faced major market resistance because most people simply did not see mushrooms as food," he said. "Even though I knew some restaurants and hotels in Addis Ababa served dishes with mushrooms, I had to visit nearly every supermarket and hotel to promote my products. Initially, I received countless rejections and skepticism," he recalled. After many attempts, his persistence finally paid off. Despite the minimal demand from their customers, some supermarkets agreed to stock his mushrooms. During the first six months, Tadesse often retrieved nearly half of the mushrooms from their shelves after three or four days. Gradually, he started to notice the growing demand for mushrooms as the orders from his partner supermarkets increased. Buoyed by growing demand, he expanded his farm to four mushroom cultivation sheds, each spanning 250 square meters. Today, the young entrepreneur cultivates vibrant Yellow mushrooms, King Trumpets, and Oyster mushrooms. "Though our farm produces an average of 50 kg of different varieties of mushrooms and has 12 dedicated workers, we are struggling to meet the growing demand," Tadesse said. Although he has found success in mushroom cultivation, he remains deeply grateful to the Chinese experts. "Their support forms the foundation of our farm and business. From securing premium Chinese spawns to providing cutting-edge technical knowledge and tools, their assistance has been transformative." Zheng Aibao, 59, who specializes in mushroom cultivation, is among the eight Chinese agricultural experts working in Ethiopia. "This is my third time in Ethiopia. I am glad to see the mushroom cultivation method introduced by Chinese experts is taking root in five farms in the country," said Zheng. As for Tadesse, his long-term goal is to deepen his knowledge of mushroom cultivation and start exporting processed mushrooms. "I believe that with coordinated efforts from both government and private sectors, mushrooms will end up on more dinner tables across Ethiopia and really help add variety to what people eat," Tadesse said.
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Ethiopia's PM Abiy appoints new leader of Tigray administration
ADDIS ABABA, April 8 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday appointed Tadesse Worede to lead the interim administration in the northern Tigray region, where divisions in the ruling party have sparked fears of a renewed war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Tadesse, the administration's deputy president for the last two years, was a top commander in the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) during the 2020-2022 war with Ethiopia's federal government, which killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes. Eritrean forces fought in support of Ethiopia's federal army during that conflict, but relations between the longtime rivals have since soured over an agreement ending the conflict signed in November 2022. Analysts say Ethiopia's neighbour Eritrea was unhappy at being excluded from the deal, which allowed the TPLF, with which it remains deeply hostile, to govern Tigray. Last year the TPLF split into two factions, with a dissident group led by Debretsion Gebremichael accusing Tigray's interim administration - led initially by TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda, whose two-year term has now expired - of selling out Tigrayan interests. Debretsion's faction, which seized the town of Adigrat last month, has denied administration accusations of allying with Eritrea, heightening the risk of a regional war. Last month Eritrea ordered a nationwide military mobilisation, according to a human rights group. Ethiopia deployed troops toward their shared border, although Abiy has sought to downplay the prospect of conflict. Tadesse, who analysts say has stayed largely neutral over the TPLF split, has agreed to eight commitments including the return of people displaced by the war and demobilisation of combatants, according to a letter shared by Abiy's spokesperson Billene Seyoum. "(Tadesse) has a clear understanding of both the strengths and shortcomings of the previous administration, and many believe he is well-positioned to guide Tigray through this critical transition," Abiy wrote on X. "It is my hope that (Tadesse) will seize this historic opportunity to help the people of Tigray realize their aspirations for peace and development," he added.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethiopia's PM Abiy appoints new leader of Tigray administration
By Dawit Endeshaw ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday appointed Tadesse Worede to lead the interim administration in the northern Tigray region, where divisions in the ruling party have sparked fears of a renewed war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Tadesse, the administration's deputy president for the last two years, was a top commander in the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) during the 2020-2022 war with Ethiopia's federal government, which killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes. Eritrean forces fought in support of Ethiopia's federal army during that conflict, but relations between the longtime rivals have since soured over an agreement ending the conflict signed in November 2022. Analysts say Ethiopia's neighbour Eritrea was unhappy at being excluded from the deal, which allowed the TPLF, with which it remains deeply hostile, to govern Tigray. Last year the TPLF split into two factions, with a dissident group led by Debretsion Gebremichael accusing Tigray's interim administration - led initially by TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda, whose two-year term has now expired - of selling out Tigrayan interests. Debretsion's faction, which seized the town of Adigrat last month, has denied administration accusations of allying with Eritrea, heightening the risk of a regional war. Last month Eritrea ordered a nationwide military mobilisation, according to a human rights group. Ethiopia deployed troops toward their shared border, although Abiy has sought to downplay the prospect of conflict. Tadesse, who analysts say has stayed largely neutral over the TPLF split, has agreed to eight commitments including the return of people displaced by the war and demobilisation of combatants, according to a letter shared by Abiy's spokesperson Billene Seyoum. "(Tadesse) has a clear understanding of both the strengths and shortcomings of the previous administration, and many believe he is well-positioned to guide Tigray through this critical transition," Abiy wrote on X. "It is my hope that (Tadesse) will seize this historic opportunity to help the people of Tigray realize their aspirations for peace and development," he added.
