Day: July 12, 2024

The Ethiopian horticulture industry is on the cusp of a new era with the upcoming national validation workshop for the draft National Horticulture Strategy scheduled for Thursday, July 18th, 2024, the workshop brings together key stakeholders to finalize a strategy that will address critical challenges and propel Ethiopia’s horticulture sector to international competitiveness.

High-Level Participation Expected:

The workshop will be a landmark event, attracting ministers, regional state presidents, commissioners and directors general from relevant government institutions, private sector representatives, academics and researchers, members of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), and more.

Addressing Industry Bottlenecks:

The strategy aims to identify and eliminate the major obstacles currently hindering the industry’s growth. By tackling these bottlenecks, Ethiopia can unlock its full horticultural potential and compete effectively on the global stage.

Collaborative Development:

The draft strategy is the result of a collaborative effort. Renowned experts from various ministries (Agriculture, Trade and Regional Integration, Industry), research institutions (Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Agricultural Transformation Institute), and key organizations (Ethiopian Maritimes Authority, Ethiopian Investment Commission) have contributed their expertise under the guidance of H.E. Dr. Girma Amente, Minister for Ministry of Agriculture.

EHPEA’s Advocacy Realized:

The upcoming validation workshop marks a significant achievement for EHPEA, which has long championed the development of a national strategy to guide the future of Ethiopian horticulture.

Validation workshop on the draft National Horticulture Strategy

We are thrilled to announce that the benchmarking process for the FSI Basket of FloriPEFCR tools has officially begun, following the launch of the FloriPEFCR guidelines by the European Commission in the first quarter of 2024!

Consumers, retailers, and governments are increasingly demanding flowers and plants to be cultivated, transported, and handled sustainably. To meet this growing demand and demonstrate compliance, the FloriPEFCR (Floriculture Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules) provides guidance to measure the environmental impact of cut flowers and potted plants using 16 environmental indicators. This ensures consistent, reliable insight into the environmental impact of ornamental horticulture products.

We invite all tool providers in our industry to use this benchmarking opportunity to demonstrate meeting the standards of the FloriPEFCR method. And also to be open for collaboration through data exchange and actively stimulate business-to-business improvements.

The new FSI Basket supports stakeholders by highlighting FloriPEFCR-based tooling that meet the criteria and help the sector reduce its environmental footprint. Providing verified, reliable environmental performance data is essential to keep our industry future fit.

Please read the guidelines and additional documents on the FSI2025 website:
Source:
Floriculture Sustainability Initiative on LinkedIn: We are thrilled to announce that the benchmarking process for the FSI…

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has been determined advocating for its member farms in addressing key challenges on in the last 2016 budget year.

Our Key Achievements:

Public-Private Dialogue Drives Solutions

EHPEA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, organized successful public-private dialogues. These high-level meetings brought together federal and regional government officials with horticulture growers and exporters to discuss and resolve major industry challenges which assisted for high level government officials expedited pending issues of the sector.

Land Lease Issues Resolved: Pending land lease issues around Batu and Bishoftu were addressed through discussions with Oromia and federal decision-makers.

Capital Goods Approved: Delays in the approval process for capital goods due to misunderstandings between the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) were resolved through EHPEA’s intervention.

Trucks Access Addis Ababa: Restrictions on trucks transporting horticulture exports into Addis Ababa were lifted following discussions with the Addis Ababa Traffic Management Agency.

Supported Vandalized Farms: EHPEA brought attention to the vandalized farms in the Bahirdar Cluster and advocated for their rehabilitation.

Import Permits Streamlined: Complications surrounding partial import permits for horticulture companies were resolved through discussions with the Ethiopian Customs Commission and National Bank of Ethiopia. Agreements were made to continue with previous permit arrangements.

Collaboration with Investment Commission: EHPEA met with the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) to discuss industry challenges and strategize on creating a more enabling environment for horticulture. The EIC commissioner pledged to collaborate and address current obstacles.

Tax Related Issues Addressed: EHPEA identified tax challenges faced by the commercial horticulture sub-sector. The Ministry of Revenue instructed regional offices to finalize pending issues, except those under litigation. As a result, tax issues for Dumen orange (Red Fox), Assela Flower, Vegpro, and Marginpar are being addressed.

Improved Labor Relations: EHPEA facilitated negotiations between trade unions and horticulture farms, resulting in a salary increase agreement. The introduction of a cluster-based wage scheme has improved wage levels and fostered better industrial harmony.

Air Cargo Facilitation: EHPEA secured freight arrangements with Ethiopian Airlines for Bahirdar cluster farms, enabling them to ship their products by air.

EHPEA’s advocacy efforts have demonstrably benefited the Ethiopian horticulture industry. By tackling critical issues and fostering collaboration, EHPEA is helping member farms thrive and contribute to the nation’s economy.

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) is stepping up its fight against the False Codling Moth (FCM), a devastating pest that threatens Ethiopia’s vital flower industry at Wolkite Custer and Tulubolo.

Training Targets Farm Staff:

EHPEA’s program equips farm managers and crop protection staff with the knowledge they need to combat FCM. Training covers:

• The national importance of controlling FCM
• Identifying FCM
• Understanding FCM biology and lifecycle
• Implementing effective FCM management strategies
• Putting the national FCM protocol into action

Why is FCM a Threat?

FCM attacks over 70 crops, including roses, a major Ethiopian export. The European Union (EU) classifies FCM as a quarantine pest, requiring inspections of 25% of Ethiopian roses. Increased inspections could disrupt trade between Ethiopia and the Netherlands, a key flower importer.

Ethiopia’s Flower Industry: A Major Contributor

Ethiopia’s flower industry is a vital part of the country’s economy. In the past year alone, flower exports generated $432 million USD, contributing 20% of GDP and creating jobs for over 200,000 people.

Success Through Collaboration:

Thanks to strong collaboration between EHPEA, member farms and Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA), FCM interceptions have been kept to a minimum, with only 3 recorded in the past year. This demonstrates the Ethiopian flower industry’s commitment to combating this emerging pest.