February 07, 2020

Damascene: One female farmer at a time for women empowerment

Damascene Essential Oil Processing PLC is a woman-led SME business working in the spice & herb sub-sector in Ethiopia. The business aims to increase its revenue with spices, essential oils and natural beauty care products through inclusive business development.

The 2SCALE partnership with Damascene is serving to develop the supply chain, scale-up the sourcing of the produce as well as diversifying Damascene’s products from body care to food products. Through complimentary services (such as linking the women farmers to value chain actors to help increase the quality and quantity of their output) from 2SCALE, the women farmers are able to boost their production as well as supply.

For instance, a PUM expert provided technical assistance on quality management at all stages of growing, processing and seedling multiplication. PUM is a volunteer organisation committed to the sustainable development of small and medium-size enterprises in developing countries and emerging markets.

Community Involvement

The Damascene partnership is operating in the Kaffa area Southwest of Ethiopia. The spice and herbs are sourced from the women who plough their backyard farm (home garden). Damascene is using both traditionally produced spices and herbs and newly improved ones. The partnership is looking to support 5,000 women (Off whom 1500 are young women who recently started working). So far, 2000 women farmers have been selected and organized into 50 groups, and 22 people have joined gainful employment.

Access to seeds improved

Access to seeds and seedlings is one of the critical inputs to increase production and productivity of spices and herbs in the community. However, the absence of commercial seedling providers near the smallholder farmers had been the biggest challenge at the inception of the partnership. Damascene has since, with support of 2SCALE, been able to set up three seed multiplication sites closer to the smallholder farmers.

In addition, and in order to maintain the freshness of the herbs and create access to women farmers, Damascene has shifted its processing facility from Addis Ababa to Bonga town, which is closer to the production farms. The processing facility has started to receive, store, and process the herbs directly supplied by smallholder women farmers.

The practice has also had a very strong and positive effect on soil conservation and green cover development as the planted herbs and spices prevented soil erosion while acting as cover from direct sunlight. The Damascene partnership contributes to women empowerment and improved livelihoods to smallholder farmers.

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