ROME – The vehicle manufacturer, Iveco, and the Slow Food Foundation have chosen to donate a truck to the Karrayyu Herders’ Camel Milk Presidium, a community of nomadic herders in the Fantalle district in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley. 

The Slow Food Foundation, a network of food enthusiasts, chefs, food producers, fishers and academics in over 150 countries, collaborates with the NGO Labata Fantalla Organization, to safeguard the Karrayyu culture, paying special attention to their emblematic product: camel milk.

The Presidium supports 42 herders, and trains them to better manage their animals’ health and diet, whilst also promoting the transportation of the camel milk, which the donation will render possible. 

Roba Fantalle Jilo, from the aforementioned NGO welcomed the news, talking of the “improved marketing of the camel milk,” aided by the new truck, whilst also emphasising how the truck will contribute to the aims of Slow Food and her organisation, “which involve safeguarding the traditional livelihoods of the Karrayyu indigenous people.”

Daniela Ropolo, from CNH Industrial commented: "With the contribution to this project…Iveco aims to improve the problem of mobility in these countries, an issue that afflicts the African continent. Communities do not have the adequate means of transport to take their products to the closest market, but the use of a vehicle will guarantee the autonomy to bring production closer to consumption."