Harnessing local technology: Manufacturing small scale mixers for the fortification of edible oils and wheat flours in northern Ethiopia

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD), the leading cause of childhood blindness in Ethiopia, affects 40% of Ethiopian children and increases childhood mortality by 23%. While government-mandated food fortification in 22 sub-Saharan African nations have cut VAD rates, fortification in Ethiopia remains constricted to a few private companies due largely to technological constraints. In 2011, Ethiopia's Ministry of Health announced a 4-year plan to mandate fortification of oils and wheat flours. However, fieldwork conducted with stakeholders revealed concern surrounding the importation of mixing equipment, which is costly and prohibitive for small-scale mills distributing to the vulnerable, rural sector. Accordingly, three mixers for factories producing up to 50T oil/day and 100T flour/day were designed and manufactured in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray, using locally-purchased stainless steel and aluminum. Experiments using tartrazine and ground capsicum frutescen (Ethiopian chili pepper) as indicators confirmed effectiveness in terms of mixing time and homogenization. While metal-work capabilities are adequate, availability and technical knowledge of stainless steel is limited; thus small facilities can feasibly obtain low-cost aluminum mixers from regional manufacturers while larger companies not requiring automation can purchase stainless steel designs from Addis Ababa. Dosifiers fabricated from stainless steel pose a challenge in all regions, but may be shaped from aluminum.