Esrael Asrat

Revolutionizing Banana Supply Chains: The Evolution to Efficiency with Cableway Transportation

General /

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world, and they are grown in tropical and subtropical climates all over the globe. However, transporting bananas from the farms where they are grown to the markets where they are sold can be a challenge. This is especially true in developing countries, where roads and infrastructure may be limited.
One sustainable and efficient way to transport bananas is by cableway. Cableway systems use a network of cables and pulleys to move bananas from the farms to collection points or packinghouses. This method of transportation is much more efficient than using trucks or other vehicles, as it can carry more bananas at once and does not require roads or bridges.
Cableway systems are also much more sustainable than other methods of transportation, as they produce no emissions and require very little energy to operate. This makes them a good choice for banana producers who are looking to reduce their environmental impact.

Benefits of using cableway banana transportation

  • Sustainability: Cableway systems produce no emissions and require very little energy to operate. This makes them a good choice for banana producers who are looking to reduce their environmental impact.
  • Efficiency: Cableway systems can carry more bananas at once than trucks or other vehicles. This can save producers time and money on transportation costs.
  • Safety: Bananas are transported in specially designed trolleys that are suspended from the cables. This ensures that the bananas are not damaged during transport, and it also protects workers from injury.
  • Scalability: Cableway systems can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of any banana producer. This makes them a flexible and cost-effective solution for transporting bananas.

Traditionally, transporting bananas has been a manual and resource-intensive process, relying on vehicles that navigate uneven roads and uncertain weather conditions. But now, enter the cableway system—a modern marvel that utilizes a network of cables and pulleys to elegantly move bananas from their cultivation sites to designated collection points or packinghouses. This transition represents a leap into a new era, replacing the cumbersome and inefficient methods of the past with a streamlined and environmentally conscious approach.

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FriEL Ethiopia is a leading company in the banana industry in Ethiopia. The company is committed to using sustainable farming practices and innovative technology to produce high-quality bananas that are safe for consumers. The cableway banana transportation technology is a major step forward for the company, and it will help FriEL Ethiopia to continue to grow and succeed in the years to come.

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Donation for Meal Sharing (የማዕድ መጋራት) program for the New Year

Social Impact /

In response to the Addis Ababa City Mayor’s Office’s commendable initiative aimed at aiding lower-income households during the Ethiopian New Year, FriEL Ethiopia has taken a meaningful step by contributing a substantial amount of birr 50,000. This generous donation has been directed to the administration of Kirkos subcity woreda 02, with the purpose of invigorating community morale and fostering a sense of togetherness. The funds will be utilized to facilitate the engagement of the local residents in a heartwarming meal-sharing (የማዕድ ማጋራት) program, thoughtfully organized to commemorate the holiday season.

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Innovators’ Incubation and Acceleration (IIA) Program

Social Impact /

Innovators’ Incubation And Acceleration (IIA) Program Details

Contents of the IIA program

Each incubation, acceleration or scaling program is built out of different modules that address the most important needs of the specific group of innovators or companies. Here is a complete overview of the kind of support that will be provided at each stage.

Incubation Modules

Scaling Modules

As each venture takes a different approach and faces different challenges when scaling, we take a holistic, non-prescriptive approach and provide support that is largely tailored to each venture’s needs. The scaling process generally includes six steps.

Market exploration and penetration

We support scaling ventures in market exploration and penetration via trade missions, connections to key advisors and partners in the target markets and by providing access to various forms of financing and/or distribution channels of large corporates.

We believe that the launching of this program will help to improve the commercialization and modernization of agriculture, and the development of an indigenous agribusiness sector while imparting youth with relevant experience and skills. Applications to the next cohort of the IIA program will be announced on our website once they are open.

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Collaborating With Dassenech Wereda To Mitigate Drought

General /

The FriEL Ethiopia farm is located in Omorate, a town in southern Ethiopia near the Kenyan border. Situated in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region, this village has an elevation of 395 meters above sea level. Its location in the Omo Valley gives it a semi-arid climate, with low and erratic rainfall and warm temperatures. The town and its surroundings are inhabited by the Dassenech people, and the greater region is known as the Dassenech wereda. According to the Ethiopian Statistics Service, as of 2021, the estimated population in the woreda is about 70,000.

The Dassenech are a pastoralist tribe, and their livelihood is centered around the breeding of cattle and other herd animals like goats and sheep. These animals are not only used for meat, milk, and skins but also signify wealth and status. Apart from raising livestock, the Dassenech occasionally practice flood-recession agriculture along the banks of the Omo River.

While Ethiopia contains the largest livestock population in Africa with an estimated 80 million livestock, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists – such as the Dassenech – in tropical and subtropical drylands are among the most vulnerable groups to climate change. Since their livelihood is so reliant on livestock, any problems affecting their domestic animals directly impact the community. For the past several years, the Dassenech wereda has been affected by devastating droughts frequently experienced in the locality. They have also been the victims of floods owing to rain in the Central and South-Central Highlands, causing the overflow of the Omo River. This has caused many families to face hunger and severe economic struggles. A food security outlook shows that the area is categorized under an emergency zone, one step above a famine.

FriEL Ethiopia has been operating the farm in Omorate since 2007 and, in that time, has made several efforts towards helping the surrounding community. At the moment, the biggest problem that the wereda faces is a lack of pasture for livestock. Thus, we are working with the Dassenech wereda administration to help combat this problem. So far, 1,600 bales of hay have been delivered from Jinka and distributed among the pastoralists in the area. An additional 15,000 hay bales have been delivered recently from production made on 100 hectares of our own land. This is expected to help partially alleviate several families’ immediate concerns regarding their cattle.

In order to further build a more sustainable solution for the pasture scarcity issue, 100 hectares of land from our farm has now been allocated to growing grass for the cattle. Several thousand bales of hay are expected to be harvested from these fields. Once the dry season hits in the coming months and the community faces a scarcity of pasture, this will help supplement their need for livestock feed. This is among our greater agenda of improving the community’s livelihood.

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State of the art farming:

Infrastructure, Processing /

In a bold move that’s set to reshape the landscape of Ethiopian agriculture, FriEL Ethiopia Farming and Processing Plc has unveiled a strategic expansion plan that involves the integration of cutting-edge machinery into its operations. This move is aimed at not only boosting efficiency but also transforming the way cotton is cultivated and harvested in the region. Among the remarkable additions to their fleet of machines is the highly anticipated cotton picker, a game-changer that promises to elevate the speed and quality of cotton picking for the upcoming season.

For a company that has built its reputation on being a powerhouse in cotton production, the introduction of the very first John Deere 9976 cotton picker in Ethiopia represents a monumental milestone. This move is more than just the acquisition of a piece of machinery; it’s a testament to FriEL Ethiopia’s commitment to innovation, progress, and contributing to the advancement of the agricultural sector in the country.

The decision to heavily invest in state-of-the-art equipment is poised to catalyze a wave of technology transfer within the agricultural and produce processing spheres. Beyond the immediate benefits of increased efficiency and improved harvest quality, the long-term implications of this move are profound. The introduction of advanced machinery can serve as a powerful catalyst, spurring knowledge sharing, skills development, and the proliferation of innovative practices throughout the sector.

Crucially, the journey towards mechanization isn’t solely about bringing machines into the picture. It encompasses a holistic approach that extends to the workforce. FriEL Ethiopia is fully committed to ensuring that its staff is well-equipped to harness the full potential of these automated systems. Comprehensive education and training programs will be put in place to empower employees to seamlessly operate, maintain, and optimize these cutting-edge machines. This dual investment in technology and human capital marks a pivotal stride toward building a sustainable and resilient agricultural ecosystem in Ethiopia.

At its core, every step taken by FriEL Ethiopia is a reflection of the company’s unwavering dedication to its vision. This vision, driven by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and responsible farming practices, resonates through every facet of their operations. From the cultivation of crops to post-harvest processing, every choice made aligns harmoniously with the overarching goal of ushering in the best farming and processing practices in Ethiopia.

As the new cotton-picking season approaches, there is a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. FriEL Ethiopia’s investment in a cotton picker represents more than a simple acquisition; it’s a bold step toward the future of Ethiopian agriculture. By embracing mechanization, the company is not only enhancing its own operations but also sowing the seeds of progress that will ripple throughout the entire agricultural landscape. This journey is not just about machinery; it’s about embracing innovation, embracing change, and embracing a future where technology and tradition converge to create something truly extraordinary.

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