Through relentless innovative and strategic moves, the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has continued with its strong efforts to enhance the country’s horticulture industry.
Strategic capacity building is among other efforts as a main way EHPEA significantly contributes to unleash Ethiopia’s potential and build resilient and sustainable horticulture.
EHPEA primarily focuses on enhancing sustainability, compliance, and competitiveness in the horticulture industry through its specialized center that provides training in good agricultural practices (GAP), postharvest handling, and market-oriented production systems among others.
With broad and sector-driven engagement, EHPEA’s hands-on training helps farms meet global standards, lifting output, quality, and long-term sector resilience.
The training program combines technical skills development, compliance capacity building, occupational safety and health awareness, and online learning tools, helping farms adopt better practices that promote sustainability and accountability.
Expediting Compliance to EHPEA’s Code of Practice
EHPEA provides continuous support to member farms to advance compliance to its Code of Practice through classes, technical guidance, follow-up coaching, compliance assessments, and awareness creation on the key requirements of the Code.
As evidenced by their accomplishments under the EHPEA Code of Practice, farms have been demonstrating strong and increasing commitment to compliance, currently with a number of farms achieving Gold Level Certification, the highest standard compliance.
The EHPEA Code of Practice has been benchmarked against internationally recognized frameworks such as GLOBAL G.A.P., SSCI, and the FSI Basket of Standards, and therefore the high-level farms comply and operate within national and international compliance system.
Excellence in Socially & Environmentally Responsible Practices
At the opening of the recently organized HortiFlora Expo 2026 (24-26 March), 14 farms were awarded with Gold Level Certificates for highest standard compliance to EHPEA Code of Practice, raising the number of farms that demonstrate unwavering commitment to international standards, environmental stewardship and profound social responsibility.
The compliance to EHPEA Code of Practice is growing with dedicated efforts of more farms supported by EHPEA to achieve the highest level certifications. This growth shows their committed drive for sustainability, responsible production, occupational safety and health, workplace standards, and market credibility, thereby indicating the ongoing race to remain competitive in both national and international markets.
The 10th edition of HortiFlora Expo has, among other milestones, provided a unique opportunity for such groups as youth and women, whereby they participated as exhibitors promoting their businesses.
Supported by WEGO Program, women smallholder farmers from Ethiopia’s rural villages in Amhara and Sidama regions actively took part in HortiFlora Expo 2026 held from 24 to 26 March, showcasing their fruits and vegetable produces, thereby creating business linkages.
Backed by WEGO Program through collaboration between CARE Ethiopia and the Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia, these participants highlighted the Expo as a significant opportunity to promote their business and build essential networks.
Their participation in the Expo goes beyond business networking and creating market linkage, says Aynie Habtamu, WEGO Program Coordinator, highlighting that it is women empowerment, ensuring equitable opportunity by recognizing their contributions and important role in agriculture and other socioeconomic activities.
“Their participation in this Expo has great significance for them. These women are rural smallholder farmers who have never been far away from their neighborhoods to attend such event and have this exposure. This creates on them a sense of feeling that their contributions and role are valued; and it strengthens the women empowerment activities,” says the Program Coordinator.
Through the Program, the women are provided with support in capacity building for their activities in obtaining seeds and other inputs, production and also linkage for high-value markets, including avocado, tomato and onion.
The 10th edition of the international floriculture and horticulture Expo (HortiFlora Expo 2026) was successfully organized from 24 to 26 March 2026 by the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporter Association (EHPEA) in collaboration with HPP Worldwide at the Addis International Convention Center (AICC) in the capital of the East African nation.
Under the theme, “Horticulture for Resilient Livelihoods” the Expo brought together international stakeholders to bolster the horticulture industry, especially connecting local growers, exporters and other industry players with international buyers, technology providers, input suppliers, academic and research institutions.
It featured panel discussions on impactful topics including, global market trends in fruits and vegetables, AI and sustainability, sustainable finance, gender and sustainability, circular solution, consumer trends and food safety, with insights of notch experts from different parts of the world.
In addition to the panels held on the sidelines of the Expo to shape the future in the horticulture industry, EHPEA has also carried out dialogues and roundtable discussions with delegates from various international and regional finance, food, academic and research institutions, with prime focus on ways of promoting the country’s horticulture industry and expanding opportunities for and benefiting EHPEA’s members.
Grand Opening Ceremony
As the sun shined and got the atmosphere warm, the impressive performance of the Federal Police March Band blew the air on the premises of the state-of-the art facility, announcing the opening of possibilities and opportunities at the Expo which facilitated new connections, conversations and networking among others.
The opening speeches and remarks by senior government officials, EHPEA Board Chair, and representatives of sponsors highlighted the great importance of the event and its role in promoting the horticulture industry while hailing the industry’s significant contributions to the country’s socioeconomic activities and beyond.
Accompanied by other officials, diplomats, EHPEA Board members and other dignitaries, H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa, the State Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, cut the ribbon declaring the launching of the Expo leading the attendees’ feet to the stunning booths designed uniquely by upholding the spirit and displaying the features of the industry, where also meaningful interactions were conducted.
Beyond the Booth: Honoring Excellence and Future-Proofing Horticulture
The HortiFlora Expo 2026 opening session also featured a ceremony that honored pinnacles of excellence within the horticulture industry, by awarding Gold Level Certificates to high performing EHPEA member farms for their committed compliance to EHPEA Code of Practice for sustainable horticulture production.
About 14 member farms were awarded the Gold Level Certificates for their unwavering commitment to international standards, environmental stewardship and profound social responsibility.
At the side stages, impactful panel discussions on relevant topics were entertained with insights of top-notch experts from different parts of the world. The discussions were aimed at fostering sustainable and inclusive horticulture underpinned by sustainable financing, smart logistics and transport, AI-powered tools and advanced technologies.
The sideline engaging panels covered topics, including global market trends in fruits and vegetables, sustainable finance, sea freight, AI, gender inclusiveness, circular solutions, consumer trends and food safety.
Facilitating Venues to Promote Youth and Women Driven Initiatives
HortiFlora Expo 2026 also provided unique opportunities for micro and startup businesses run by women and youth who have actively participated in the Expo, leading them to strike connections with potential customers. It served as an important platform for their visibility and networking with partners
Women smallholder farmers from rural villages have also seized the opportunity to showcase their fruits and vegetable produces at the Expo that allowed them to network and create business linkages.
EHPEA’s Engagement
During the three-day Expo, the EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie on his part met and held dialogues as well as presided over a roundtable discussion with several regional and international institutions, primarily focusing on ways of fostering partnership and collaboration to promote Ethiopia’s horticulture and facilitate opportunities for local industry players.
In doing so, the Executive Director met and held fruitful discussions with officials and representatives of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on the means that EHPEA members can access to finance and technical support; the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for technical cooperation on ways of leveraging the country’s potential for high value fruits; and Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) for collaboration as PFS endeavors to strengthen food systems, improve food safety and nutrition across Africa through expansion and increasing the competitiveness of the food processing sector. It connects corporate expertise with African food processers.
In addition to impactful discussions with other institutions, the Executive Director also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dutch University of Maastricht for cooperation on tailored capacity building and training for students of higher institution towards ultimate goal of toughening Ethiopia’s horticulture and boosting its competitiveness globally.
HortiFlora Expo 2026 was a resounding success, and it serves as an impetuous energy fueling the next steps. This year the Expo was, for first time, organized as annual event instead of its previous biannual format.
Contact Info
Location : Micky Leyland Avenue on the Road to Atlas Hotel, NB Business Center; 6th floor; Room #603 Phone : +251 11 6636750 P.O.Box: 22241 Code 1000 Email: info@ehpea.org
