EHPEA

Ethiopian Local G.A.P. Code Approved for Piloting!

We are thrilled to share exciting news marking a major milestone in strengthening agricultural standards across Ethiopia. A high-level consultative workshop was recently convened to formally review and endorse the Ethiopian Local G.A.P. Code, paving the way for its piloting phase.

During the workshop, the Ethio G.A.P. development team presented a detailed overview of the Code’s main pillars: the General Regulation (GR) and the Control Points and Compliance Criteria (CPCC). These foundational documents set out clear, practical standards for Good Agricultural Practices, meticulously adapted to Ethiopia’s diverse agricultural landscape. They address critical areas such as food safety, environmental sustainability, workers’ health and safety, and product traceability laying the groundwork for more competitive and responsible horticultural production.

The event brought together key stakeholders and decision-makers whose expertise and support are instrumental to the success of this initiative. Notable participants included, H.E. Dr. Wondale Habtamu from the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA), Dr. Diriba Geleti of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Mr. Tewodros Zewdie from the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) and Mr. Abdela Negash representing the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Their active engagement underscored the shared commitment to building a robust certification system that meets both local priorities and international market expectations.

The approval of the Ethiopian Local G.A.P. Code for piloting marks an important step forward in empowering producers, enhancing market access, and promoting sustainable agricultural growth across the country. Stay tuned as we continue to roll out this groundbreaking initiative!

This consultative workshop is organized in support of CASA program and EHPEA.

Investing in Skills for Sustainable Agriculture!

Over the past few weeks, EHPEA TVET Center trainers has been actively engaged in delivering comprehensive capacity-building programs to more than 600 farm workers across member farms located in Koka, Batu, and Bishoftu clusters.
Topics covered included:
✅ Environmental Management
✅ Occupational Safety & Health
✅ Crop Protection
✅ Safe Handling of Chemicals
These training programs are part of EHPEA’s continuous commitment to strengthening technical competencies, ensuring occupational health and safety, and advancing environmentally sustainable practices within Ethiopia’s horticulture industry.

IFTEX Expo 2025

EHPEA is thrilled to announce its participation in the IFTEX Expo happening in Nairobi from June 3 to 5, 2025! We’re proud to represent our member farms and create valuable B2B meeting opportunities at our stand.

Don’t miss out on this chance to connect and explore the beautiful world of Ethiopian horticulture. We are also promoting the upcoming HortiFlora Expo 2026, stop by and learn more at our stand E2.10!

See you there!

Exciting News for Ethiopia’s Horticulture Sector!

We’re thrilled to announce that the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA), has launched a revolutionary E-learning platform called ‘Horti-Campus’ today at the Haile Grand Hotel in Addis Ababa!

This incredible digital initiative will transform capacity building in Ethiopia’s horticulture industry, providing flexible, interactive, and impactful training to professionals across the nation. 🎉

With expert guidance from TradeMark Africa, Hori-Campus is designed to bridge knowledge gaps, boost productivity, and ensure compliance with national and international standards. The platform offers a variety of learning modules covering essential topics like Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), environmental sustainability, post-harvest handling, export procedures, and occupational health and safety.

💡 A New Era of Learning 💡 Horti-Campus breaks down traditional barriers to education, enabling scalable, on-demand learning accessible even in the most remote areas. From entry-level farm scouts to senior agronomists, our self-paced courses and real-time assessments will empower horticulture professionals to enhance their skills and advance their careers.

This initiative marks a significant step in EHPEA’s mission to nurture a skilled and competitive horticulture workforce, equipping the sector with the tools needed to meet global standards and unlock new growth potential.

🙌 Building Our Future Together 🙌 The launch of Horti-Campus builds on EHPEA’s longstanding commitment to professional development in the sector. Since establishing its accredited TVET Training Institute in 2021, EHPEA has trained a wide range of stakeholders, from unemployed youth to farm managers.

Additionally, our pioneering Code of Practice, introduced in 2007, guides farms on GAP, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability, helping to train nearly 50,000 farm workers along the way!

Let’s embrace this new era of education and growth together!

Federal officials pay a visit to Joytech

State Minister of Ministry of Transport and Logistics(MoTL), H.E Dhenge Boru, and Director General of Ethiopian Maritime Affairs Authority(EMAA), Abdulber Shemsu with Executive Director of EHPEA paid an official visit to Joytech high tech tissue culture laboratory, state -of- the- art nursery, herb export farm fields and cold chain warehouse and operation, among others.

The officials have expressed their high- level satisfaction with the high-tech farming technologies that Joytech is deploying to transform the horticulture industry in Ethiopia. They have also expressed their readiness to extend proactive support to further reinforce the enabling environments for temperature controlled service provision for JoyTech and other companies dealing with perishable products.

They have also commended the cold chain logistics and all the traceability technologies that are in operation at Joytech which generates real-time data to track and trace cold chain functionality across the supply chain.

JoyTech has also expressed its readiness to undertake new investment in cold chain so as to cater smart perishable logistics service provision to smallholder farmers and commercial players in the country.

Joytech is owned and managed by skilled and experienced growers. Currently, it runs its operations on 100 hectare on two farms located at Bishoftu and Legedadi in Oromia Regional State.

Joytech maintains four distinct areas of business: (1) Plant Propagation (2) Fresh Herbs & Niche Vegetables farming (3) Cut Flowers (4) Prepacking Distribution and Trading.

Joytech committed to growing and harvesting the finest, freshest, and most delicious herbs while consistently employing the most cutting-edge growing techniques, irrigation systems, climate control, refrigeration, and consistently superior food safety practices from field-to-fork.

Joytech’s exceptional farms are home to more than 1,400 permanent employees, 75% of whom are women. Over 150 university graduates also work at Joytech and the number is steadily rising. This reflects the involvement in creating rewarding career opportunities for Ethiopians seeking higher education.

State Minister of Transport and Logistics invites horticulture farms to invest in Cold Chain Service Provision

A high level meeting regarding investment opportunities in the Cold Chain Service provision in Ethiopia was conducted yesterday at Hilton Hotel.

During the meeting, State Minister of Ministry of Transport and Logistics, H.E Dhenge Boru, underscored the ample investment opportunities in the cold chain service provision in the country.

He also reiterated the readiness of his ministry and the government to create conducive enabling environment for those that are interested in investing in the Cold Chain service provision.

Mr. Tewodros Zewdie, Executive Director of EHPEA, gave a presentation on the Status of Cold Chain Service Provision in Ethiopia. According to Mr. Tewodros, smart and efficient agro-logistics service provision is a prerequisite for competitiveness and also to bring transformation in the horticulture industry.

The horticulture farms on their part requested the government to arrange land in an expedited manner so as to expand their farming operation and also to undertake investment in the cold chain service provision. Access to finance is also raised as an impediment to catalyse further investment in the agro-logistics industry.

During the session it was agreed to set up proactively structured platform comprising public and private sector stakeholders to scan existing challenges and also to bring breakthrough in the horticulture, dairy and pharmaceutical industries cold chain service provisions.

Some of EHPEA members have expressed their readiness to start investment in cold chain and logistics service provision.

Various initiatives by Ministry of Transport and Logistics, EHPEA, and other development partners and stakeholders are going on to bring breakthrough in the cold chain so as to creat smart and efficient agro-logistics systems in Ethiopia.

The session was organized by Ministry of Transport and Logistics jointly with EHPEA.

Celebrating Mother’s Day with Ethiopian Blooms!

As the world gears up for Mother’s Day, Ethiopia’s flower export industry is blooming beautifully! Known for its rich climate and fertile highlands, our nation has established itself as a premier supplier of high-quality flowers, sending millions of vibrant stems to countries worldwide.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, celebrated on the second Sunday of May, Ethiopian growers are ramping up production to meet the soaring demand for fresh blooms. This year alone, we proudly exported an impressive 4,050.78 tons of exquisite flowers between April 21 and May 11!

From stunning roses to elegant and cheerful summer flowers, Ethiopian flowers are ready to add a touch of love and beauty to celebrations everywhere.

On this special occasion, the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA) wishes all mothers around the globe a joyful and love-filled Mother’s Day! 💖🌷

AQ Roses: Growing with Purpose

A Lasting Commitment to Communities and the Environment!

At AQ Roses, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) isn’t just a corporate checkbox, it’s the heart of everything they do. Since its establishment in 2006, it has grown not just roses, but also opportunities, communities, and sustainable futures. With a firm belief that business success goes hand in hand with social progress, AQ Roses proudly champions a triple bottom-line approach—people, planet, and profit.

Located in Batu Town, just 162 km south of Addis Ababa, AQ Roses has flourished for 19 years, cultivating premium cut roses on 50.5 hectares and exporting to European markets. Yet the proudest growth lies in the lives it touches—over 1,500 jobs created, and countless lives uplifted through thoughtful, impactful CSR initiatives.

🌍 CSR in Action: Transforming Lives, One Project at a Time

Guided by a dedicated CSR policy and committee, the company ensures every initiative is driven by transparency, fairness, and community needs. Here’s a glimpse of how they have been sowing seeds of change:

• Clean Water Access: A new community water tap now provides reliable, safe drinking water.

• Improved Infrastructure: An 11-km road built from the railway to Koftu enhances transportation and connectivity.

• Education Support: School supplies for underprivileged students in our Woreda have boosted attendance and learning opportunities.

• Healthcare Access: Health insurance provided for 30 low-income households has increased access to medical care.

• Youth Empowerment: A mobile car wash project in Kilole Woreda creates sustainable jobs for unemployed youth.

• Agricultural Support: One hectare of land ploughed for nearby farmers has helped improve food production and incomes.

• Better Governance: Construction of the Gimbichu Woreda Office boosts community service delivery.

• Peace & Stability: Community service support initiatives have contributed to greater local harmony.

• Worker Welfare: Free wheat and maize flour distribution supported our workers during tough economic times.

AQ Roses Guiding Values

Everything they do is grounded in the company core values—integrity, inclusivity, responsibility, and innovation. These values guide how it cares for the people, partners, and the planet.

The CSR efforts prioritize support for marginalized communities and sustainable environmental solutions, ensuring that our actions are culturally relevant and locally impactful.

HortiFlora Expo 2025: A Resounding Success!

As the curtains closed on HortiFlora Expo 2025, we look back with immense pride and gratitude at a truly vibrant and impactful event held from April 1st to 3rd at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa.

From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was electric, buzzing with energy and enthusiasm from exhibitors and visitors alike. Our gallery now beautifully showcases the highlights of three dynamic days filled with fruitful connections, insightful discussions, and a celebration of the burgeoning horticulture sector in Africa.

Relive the Vibrant Moments:
Browse through our collection of stunning photographs and witness the captivating displays of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs that painted the Millennium Hall in a spectrum of colors. See the smiles of happy visitors engaging with exhibitors, forging new partnerships, and discovering the latest innovations shaping our industry.

Engaging Discussions, Shaping the Future:
The side panel discussions proved to be a cornerstone of HortiFlora 2025, tackling pertinent issues critical to the sector’s sustainable growth. Our gallery captures the lively debates and knowledge-sharing that took place during sessions such as:
• Avocado Production: Unlocking the Avocado Value Chain Development in Ethiopia
• Horticulture Investment Opportunities in Ethiopia and Incentives Accorded to Potential Investors
• The Need for Smart & Efficient Agro-Logistics in Ensuring Competitiveness
• Emerging EU Regulations: Potential Impacts on the Floriculture Industry
• Global Market Trends & Patterns of Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs
• Labor and Skills Development in the Horticulture Industry
• Dynamics in Plant Protection Products
• Local Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Quality & Sustainability
These discussions fostered valuable dialogue among experts, stakeholders, and participants, paving the way for collaborative solutions and future advancements.

Networking and Recognition:
The networking reception at the Skylight Hotel provided a relaxed yet productive environment for forging business relationships. Our gallery also proudly features the recognition of our esteemed partners and stakeholders, whose invaluable support was instrumental to the success of HortiFlora Expo 2025.

Congratulations once again to the winners of the Best Stand Design and Best Grower Design Awards, showcasing exceptional creativity and quality within the industry.

Thank You for Being Part of HortiFlora Expo 2025!

The success of this year’s expo is a testament to the dedication and participation of our exhibitors, visitors, partners, sponsors, and the entire horticulture community. Your presence, engagement, and passion made HortiFloraExpo 2025 a truly memorable and impactful event.

Stay connected with us for more updates and insights from the African horticulture sector. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you once again to the next edition of HortiFlora 2026!

HortiFlora Expo 2025

We have officially concluded the 9th edition of HortiFlora today at Addis Ababa in the Millennium Hall. Almost all exhibitors, producers, buyers, investors, logistic service providers, consultants, standard scheme owners, visitors, Input suppliers, academia, panel attendees, stakeholders and partners have expressed their deep satisfaction on the incredible vibes, business agreements inked, lessons learnt, networking opportunities created and etc…

We have decided with our partner hppexhibitions to make HortiFlora a yearly event starting from next year taking in to consideration the demand of exhibitors, buyers and partners.

HortiFlora is growing in scope and content. Reserve your booth for next year.

It is becoming an important MICE event in Ethiopia.

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

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