Category: Our News

EHPEA training center is delivering a series of practical trainings for Zengena and Mota Cooperative Union, Commercial Farms, Agricultural Office Experts, and Agro-processing Industrial Parks as part of a GIZ-EHPEA project named “Cluster Support for the Agriculture and Food Industries in Ethiopia.”

The training program is designed to help cooperatives, unions, and commercial farms comprehend the quality and market needs of products, as well as appropriate agricultural practices, in order to promote a feasible link between smallholder farmers and the agro-processing sector.

An international Ethiopian horticulture investment conference, held on April 28, 2022 at Inter Luxury Hotel.

The program organized by EHPEA with an objective in creating awareness of the current horticulture investment potentials in the regional states.

The horticulture sector plays a profound role as it is labor intensive sector initiating many new jobs in addition to its huge capacity of providing food and foreign currency from export commodities.

The program was a great platform to promote networking opportunities among participants drawn from the diplomatic community, international organizations, private sectors and pertinent government offices, with a view to shape new ventures and an ever more conducive business climate.

On the conference 7 regional states represented by their respective investment bureau’s, namely, Oromiya Industry and Investment Bureau, South West Ethiopia People Trade &Investment, Investment Promotion office of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region, Amhara Industry and Investment Bureau, Benishangul Gumz National Regional State Rural Land and Investment Bureau, Gambella People National Regional State & Sidama Regional State.

Opportunity and challenges of the investment discussed at length.

A national conference organized by Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), under the theme “Enhance Opportunities for women in Agri-Business” held on April 26, 2022 at skylight hotel.

The conference organized with an objective to promote and address women contribution for the development of the agri-business in the country.

On the panel discussion it was stated that in order to be self-sufficient in food and to grow the country’s economy, women should be involved and encouraged in the agricultural sector.

Invited speakers who are engaged in agri-business shared their experiences, which was a great learning platform for the participants.

Bahirdar University Horticulture Department students, researchers and masters students spent a day at Bahirdar Fresh Plc. and Ethio Agri-Ceft Plc on March 24, 2022.

The program organized by Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) with a theme ‘Horticulture for Future Generations’ to give students a chance to get a hands-on agricultural learning experience and a new perspective on the horticulture industry.

This kind of program organized on a yearly base which is open to any student who wants additional perspectives and networking opportunities in agriculture.

On the program the participants got a chance to learn the practical way of growing blueberries from seedling to packing as per the export stand. They also got the exposure on how to manage a green waste using compost system where the farms currently benefiting by changing their waste into wealth.

It has been said that an agreement has been reached to supply vegetable and fruit products to Djibouti market.
Ethiopia and Djibouti have agreed to supply new vegetable and fruit products to Djibouti market.
The first Ethio-Jibouti Vegetable and Fruit Forum was held in Addis Ababa and many Ethiopian fruit and vegetable exporters have agreed to provide more than 20 quality products to major Djibouti markets.

It is said that the Ethiopian Horticulture Manufacturers and Senders Association has served as an important platform to evaluate business discussions and to improve vegetable and fruit products sent to Djibouti.
Discussion forum at Djibouti Ethiopian Embassy Business and Economics Department Counsellor Mr. Biniam Efrem, Mr. Djibouti Chamber of Commerce Mr. Siyad Ali Hassan and Mr. Tewodros Zewde have given explanation on the measures that can be made to increase the products sent to Djibouti.
It has been stated that regional trade ties need to be strengthened especially during the current global food crisis.
Information we got from the foreign minister shows that the Djibouti delegation team is expected to visit Bishoftu and Qoka farms.

As part of EHPEA corporate social responsibility intervention, 500,000.00 birr donated for displaced community in Wollo due to the war.

On the program Linsen Rose Plc. also donated additional 500,000.00 birr to create a better impact.

The formal handing over occasion held at deputy administrator of the zone Ato Tesfa Dagnaw, deputy administrator of the zone expressed his appreciation for the extended support by both EHPEA and Linsen Rose at the event which took place in hlSouth Wollo Zone administration office.

He also mentioned the people of Wollo will never forget such cooperation by investors at this difficult time.

Ato Yohanes Abebe, on behalf of EHPEA and Ato Mekasha Tesfaye on behalf of Linsen Rose expressed it is the responsibility of investments to support war and drought victims.

The team also visited the rehabilitation site at Jari.

On the other occasion, members of EHPEA, AQ rose, Bram flower, Herberg rose, and Ziway rose workers donated in kind, 130 quintals of wheat flour for the displaced communities around Kemise zone in Dawa Chefa and 100 quintals of maize for drought affected area in Borena which is estimated the cost of one million birr.

The federal level strategic partnership platform for horticulture conducted its monthly meeting on addressing challenges of the sector today at Batu (Ziwayi) town at Sher farm in the presence of senior officials and representatives of pertinent federal Ministries, Commissions and Ethiopian Electric Utility and Ethio-Telecom. The participants deliberated at length including, among others, policy, regulations and directives related issues, farms specific problems, ambiguous interpretation of tax law, amd frequent power outrage. On the meeting, Dr. Sofiya Kassa, State Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the need for synergy within each government institution and the private sector. Along with the meeting the participants visited the constructed Wetland system and got a briefing how the farms manage their liquid wastes for a better environment protection as well as water saving. The meeting adjourned by taking assignments for prompt response on the raised issues. 

EHPEA presented the market assessment on the potential of fruit and vegetable export to Djibouti targeting the mass and high end market, today for its member farms who are engaged in the production of the fruit, vegetable, herb and seedling at its head office.

EHPEA linked its member farms with International Finance Corporation(IFC) which is the largest global development institution and member of World Bank Group on the financing opportunities they offer for horticulture farms today at Hilton hotel.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) provides financing of private-enterprise investment in developing countries around the world, through both loans and direct investments.

IFC introduced its customized financing schemes for the sector with a provision of 50% loan, 5% interest rate and 20% equity depending on the business case. IFC’s representatives presented that they are looking to work as a partner by providing, agribusiness advisory on quality assurance, technical support, knowledge sharing, product development and maintenance.

The discussion concluded to come up with the way forward on identifying innovative solutions for strategic challenges and linking more investments with IFC’S services.