Addis Ababa — A Project that would enable Oromia State to produce silk and caster bean bio fuel at a cost of half a billion birr was officially launched here on Friday.

The project, which would benefit five million farmers, would be carried out by the Oromia State administration, Joss Humanitarian Foundation and Access International.

In a message through his representative Chief of the Oromia State Abadulla Gemeda at the occasion said his administration has been implementing various packages that would enable boost productivity in the state.

He said trainings are being offered to professionals with the support of an NGO in collaboration with Adama University and Assela Agriculture College.

Jose’s Humanitarian Foundation head Joseph Mateka Chicoo said the development of castor bean will have the positive role in protecting the environment.

The castor plant which will be used for feeding the silk worms will be planted on deforested and degraded land.

He said farmers engaged in silk development would get up to 25 birr from a kilo of silk cocoon (Gulo silk).

The seed of the plant is also used for bio-fuel production; he said and added eventually save foreign currency expense for petroleum purchase.

Access International S. Company manager Mikru Damite on his part said trainings were given to farmers engaged in silk development in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and South Ethiopia People states. He said trial production has been harvested in some parts of the country.

He called on all stakeholders to contribute their share for the realization of the project.

- ENA

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