Day: March 19, 2019

The panel discussion entitled “Corporate Social Responsibility as a Roadmap to Social Sustainability in the Horticulture Sector” reflected on the practices and challenges of doing responsible business in the horticulture sector.

A healthy horticulture sector is a socially responsible sector in which companies throughout the horticulture cluster balance social, ecological and economic considerations. The concept and practice of corporate social responsibility in the horticulture sector was convened in a panel discussion which was held as part of the HortiFlora Expo on Thursday March 14, 2019 at Millennium Hall, Addis Ababa.

This panel, chaired by Yassin Legesse, EHPEA board member, brought together both local and foreign experts.

Yassin underlined corporate social responsibility is no more an option but mandatory in the Ethiopian market. He added companies need to incorporate CSR in their overall company strategies and objectives.

According to participants, the concept of CSR is often neglected or underestimated in Ethiopia. Hence, continuous discussions and dialogue need to be organized.

Hortiflora sideline deliberation conducted on March 14, 2019 the Millenium Hall on “Ethiopia’s Potential to Produce and Export Vegetable Seed” stressed on the need for reconsidering restrictions on smallholder farmers vegetable seed multiplication and strengthening of implementation capacity of relevant governmental body on vegetable seed multiplication.

Panelists indicated that the commitment of the Government of Ethiopia to allow more and more foreign direct investments and that there exist high chance for increased vegetable import and investing in vegetable seed production for export in Ethiopia.

One of the panelists, BASF Vegetable Seeds Ethiopia Managing Director and Country Head Ben Depraetere, pointed out that the conducive climate and diverse agro-ecology of Ethiopia allows the growing and production of all vegetables in Ethiopia.

Stating that Chille is world’s largest vegetable producer, Mr. Ben said Ethiopia has a lot of advantages to become “Africa’s Chille” in vegetable seed production.  In this respect, strong regulatory system and policy framework should be in place to empower pertinent governmental organ administering national vegetable seed production.  During the discussion OCP’s Amin Jemal highlighted the role of applying modern agri techniques particularly sound management of drip irrigation for the success of vegetable production.

The panel was moderated by Professor Derbew Belew of Jimma University’s College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.