Day: October 12, 2019

The National Quality Infrastructure Development Project (NQIDP) of Ministry of Industry, financed by World Bank, conducted a Need Assessments and Quality Standard Status of fruit and vegetable production and exports, leather processing, textile industry, honey production and processing in Ethiopia, held at Nexus Hotel October 10, 2019.

On the validation workshop the study team presented their findings along with their proposed recommendation. The study identified the challenges and gaps across the fruit and vegetables value chain that need to be addressed; mainly in relation to input supplies, farming practice, transport services, storage, processing, distribution and marketing.

The study proposed recommendations that would help to improve the fruit and vegetable production and exports standards in the value chain,  especially in the area of  quality infrastructure issues that relates to standards, testing, inspection, certification, calibration.  Hence, the study proposed fruit and vegetables sectoral improvement priority topics and institutions that could contribute in providing the services and addressing the priority topics.

In this regards, Ministry of Technology and Innovation; Agricultural Transformation Agency, EHPEA and Ministry of Transport were identified to provide the services and play major roles in improving the quality standards.

Accordingly, EHPEA was selected to provide training on Global GAP Certification (for pre-harvest and post harvest activities).  In addition to this, EHPEA representatives also advised that EHPEA can also provide onsite and classroom IPM Training and the study team well considered the comments given by the representatives.

The project manager of NQIDP concluded the validation workshop by highlighting that they will consider all the inputs given by participants and key stakeholders identify as service providers to be ready to provide the recommended services.

The Addis Ababa City Administration has lifted the heavy-duty truck restriction for daylight hours on. It is remembered that starting July 8, the administration imposed restrictions on truck movement in the city during the daytime until 8:00PM to reduce traffic in the capital. Medium sized trucks, like those with a capacity of 3.5 tons or less were excluded. Now, however all trucks can move freely in Addis on Saturday.

Semere Jelalu, Traffic Safety and Management Deputy Head at Addis Ababa City Transport Programs Management Office, told Capital that since the ratification of the directive trucks were not allowed to move through the city between 6:30 am and 8pm except on Sunday and holidays.

“Now we have added Saturday and Sunday and holidays for trucks to drive in the day time in the city,” Semere said.

Several businesses said their work was negatively impacted by the directive. Because most intercity transportation requires traveling through Addis Ababa the new law forced those shipping goods across the country, to wait on the edge of the Capital until night. Others like exporters of fresh goods including flowers and meat exporters were disappointed by the city’s decision. They claimed that their products were perishable and suffered from the delay.

Most of the flower farms and abattoirs are out of the city but need to transport their product to Bole International Airport every day for export.

Even though most of the businesses have expressed their opinions, the Ethiopian Bottled Water and Soft Drinks Manufacturing Industries Association (EBWSDMIA) has come up with concrete evidence showing the advantage and disadvantage to the water industry.

According to the information from EBWSDMIA, the study is undertaken by professionals from Addis Ababa University and the outcome submitted to the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Transport, Office of the Prime Minister and City Transport Bureau.

The study argued that bottlers stock increased at their production site because they did not have ample time to distribute the product since some of the industries were forced to halt one of the three production shifts followed by layoffs of one third of the employees.

They also expressed the concern that it is not easy to do business at night because of security problems, and infrastructure like adequate street lights banks and labor issues.

“The study insists that small trucks up to 3.5 tons of capacity run in the city from 10 am to 4 pm. This means it pushes bottlers to expand the number of small trucks for product distribution which increased the number of vehicles in the road,” Ashenafi Merid, head of the association said.

The study that Capital reviewed recommended that at least medium trucks should be allowed for such kind of business or the hour limits be reduced either in the morning or night-time.
Ashenafi told Capital that the association leaders have gotten the chance to meet and explained the barriers for several city and federal officials including Girma Birru, Macro Economic Advisor of the Prime Minister.
He believed that the current decision of the city administration allowing trucks to move on Saturday is a good contribution for the economy.

Owner and General Manager of Tinaw businesses plc. Mr. Tesfaye G/Hiwot initiated a life skill training for its middle and higher management staff which were provided by Serapta Lifestyle Management plc. The training aimed to improve the life style of employees directly as well as to boost productivity through achieving better health of employees.

The training emphasized on life skills, better life styles, health and welfare, ergonometric aspects of individuals and others. The training delivered at the premise of the farm targeting middle and higher management of Tinaw which then extended to all employees through in-house training. Employees of the farms appreciated the initiative and stated that the training workshop was a life and career changing program which could be interpreted to personal and professional life.

Tinaw Business Share Company was established in 2006, by five shareholders, with the major objective of engaging in various business portfolios in a phase by phase basis with the initial focus on horticulture areas, floriculture in particular. The Company’s head quarter is in Addis Ababa – the Capital City of Ethiopia. The farm is located in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Guraghe Zone, Ezsha District, Ziba-botto Village, 175 kms South West of Addis Ababa, at an altitude of 1970 meters above sea level.

The Company started operation on 7 hectares of greenhouse coverage and has undergone subsequent rose flowers expansion projects. Presently, the Company grows seventeen varieties of rose flower on 26.6 hectares of greenhouse coverage and exports to the international market, mainly The Netherlands. The Company has become one of the most competitive companies in the international floriculture business which is characterized by aggressive competition. It generates considerable foreign exchange to the country and has provided job opportunities for 900 workers at present. Noting its competitiveness and the already established management capacity in the floriculture sector, the Company planned to undertake rose flower expansion project.

Apart from rose flowers, the Company has secured 54 hectares of land for vegetables and has started growing for the local market at the initial stage of development with the ultimate plan for export market in phase by phase basis.

To this effect, the Company has put in place the major infrastructural facilities such as water supply along with a modern filtration system, electricity, and drip irrigation lines on 10 hectares open field. The Farm is also staffed with the required professional, and has started growing various vegetables on 10 hectares of land on open field. The flower farm has been engaged in various corporate social responsibility activities for the benefit of the local community.