Ethiopia has dubbed the enset plant "the enemy of hunger," recognizing its immense potential. A single plant has been estimated to yield up to 50 kilograms of food, earning it the new moniker, "Tree against hunger." Current estimates indicate enset has already fed approximately one-sixth of the Ethiopian population, or nearly 20 million people.
The government plans a nationwide expansion of enset cultivation across all regions, aiming to increase the number of people fed by enset to 40 million by 2031. However, a planned national initiative, similar to those for teff and wheat, has yet to be implemented, but is expected to begin at the start of the new year.
Various initiatives are underway to expand enset production reported La Croix international. For example, a five-year pilot program supported by the French Embassy has planted 2,258 enset seedlings in the Amhara region, benefiting numerous farmers.
Building on this success, the Ministry of Agriculture is negotiating with organizations like USAID to secure funding for a nationwide planting of 400 million enset seedlings.
Enset's value extends beyond Ethiopia; its potential is recognized internationally. Kenya, for instance, is conducting trials on enset cultivation with support from Arbaminch University, starting in 2023.
A 2024 UN report highlighted that 733.4 million people face hunger, representing one in five Africans. Food security is a major global concern; figures show 2.3 billion people worldwide are at risk of food insecurity.