EHPEA organized an experience sharing visit held on April 6/2021, at Ethio Agri CEFT Plc. farm on their best practice of recycling green waste into compost and liquid fertilizer which favours the company input supply cost reduction while conserving the environment. The program organized in line with World Environment Day celebration with a theme “Ecosystem Restoration through Better Waste Management Practice for Safe and Sustainable Future in Horticulture Investment”. Vermicomposting is a process whereby earthworms transform organic residues into compost that can be used as a substrate for plant growth. EHPEA executive director stated on his closing remarks that the Association is dedicated in creating such kind of learning platforms to support the scientific knowledge transfer has a key role for the sector’s sustainability and address environment concerns.
On the visit EHPEA member farm representatives got the exposure to observe the practical Vermi-composing and Vermi-culturing outputs of the farm which makes the farm beneficial for sustainable organic horticulture production and maintaining balanced ecosystem.
According to Ethio Agri CEFT farm manager Ato. Leul Debas, since the company started applying this technology they managed to reduce cost of liquid fertilizer imports by 33% as well as chemical usage by 50%.
Category: Our News
EHPEA Holds Discussion with National Bank of Ethiopia
EHPEA members and representatives of the business community met and discussed with senior officials of the National Bank to discuss on Directive No. XD/70/2021 regarding “The Amendment of Retentions and Utilizations of Export Earning and Inward Remittances”.
Two vice governors and a director from the National Bank of Ethiopia gave an explanation about the rationales that led about the amendment of the previous directive and also the purpose of the newly incorporated clauses of the amendment.
EHPEA members have also raised their concerns and the potential impact of the newly introduced amendment on their operation. After deliberating at length agreement has been reached to make an assessment on the potential adverse impact of the new directive and also to take corrective measures on the basis of the assessment.
President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association (ECCSA), Ato Melaku Ezezew, on his part underscored the need to have prior consultation with stakeholders before enactment of such type of directives to minimize potential adverse impacts on the business community.
The discussion forum was organized by EHPEA and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association.
A closing session conducted at EHPEA Office, for the skill based practical training
A closing session conducted today at EHPEA office, for the skill based practical training which have been provided for seven consecutive days to horticulture researchers and university lecturers at EHPEA member farms; Agriflora PLC, Ethio Agri-CEFT PLC, Joytech PLC, Nunhems Ethiopia PLC and Florensis Abyssinia Farm PLC.
According to the trainee’s reflection, the training was an inspiration to perform their research in a different direction and changed their perception of the horticulture sector in general.
EHPEA TVET Training inked for partnership with Ethiopian Agricultural Research Council Secretariat (EARCS) to collaborate for sustainable engagements on skills development knowledge and technology transfer in the horticulture sector, to strengthen the public private partnership and research – Industry linkage.
At the program State Minister for Horticulture Sector Ministry of Agriculture, Ato Wondale Habtamu stated the Ministry’s commitment to have a horticulture policy in the country as well as harmonizing the agriculture research institutes. He also added the association interventions doubles the success of the horticulture industry in the country.
EHPEA Executive Director, Ato. Tewodros Zewdie also stated that the partnership has been a breakthrough for the Agricultural Institutes in the country, and a great start for EHPEA TVET Training Centre broadening its services to public and private agri-business organizations.
The association gave a recognition certificate to its member farms who were keen to open their farm for the practical training.
EHPEA launches its accredited TVET Training Institute; ADDIS ABABA, January 28, 2021
EHPEA launches its accredited TVET Training Institute; ADDIS ABABA, January 28, 2021 – The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) on Thursday convened a launching event for its accredited TVET Training Institute, which is believed to augment the efforts being made by the Association to enhance the international competitiveness of the country’s horticulture industry, through capacity building and promotion of sustainable and responsible operation of the sector.
The Institute caters its services for local and international institutions working on agriculture, specifically targeting on unemployed youth, officials of agri-business establishments of the public and private sector, extension workers, unions and cooperatives, TVET instructors, farm managers, agronomists, storekeepers, compliance managers, supervisors, farm scouts, and extension workers among others.
EHPEA also introduced its Code of Practice in 2007 as a voluntary initiative to guide, monitor, and communicate the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) as well as Social and Environmental considerations by farms exporting flowers and cuttings worldwide. The Code has a total of three levels, including, Bronze, Silver (which is benchmarked with the international standard Global G.A.P), and Gold level which demands the farm to actively engage in Quality Management and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
EHPEA has, so far, delivered training to nearly 50,000 farm workers. The Association awarded the Kingdom of Netherlands for its continuous support and unreserved cooperation for more than a decade to achieve this success.
At the launching event the State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture Ato. Wondale Habtamu and other government officials, farm members as well as pertinent stakeholders were in attendance.
A validation workshop on the doing business challenges of Horticulture export farms operating in Amhara Regional State held in Bahirdar at Jacaranda hotel
A validation workshop on the doing business challenges of Horticulture export farms operating in Amhara Regional State held in Bahirdar at Jacaranda hotel. The survey comprises the Horticulture Industry challenges in-depth and way forward solution to enhance investment in the region.
The Head of Amhara Investment and Industry Beuro Ato. Girma Yeshitla, stated that the region should work towards maximizing the benefit of the horticulture development with in the region and their readiness to support the sector based on the findings of the study.
State Minister for Horticulture Sector Ministry of Agriculture, Ato Wondale Habtamu presented the country’s overall Horticulture investment potential and its opportunities described as fuel for Job creation, foreign currency earnings, and input for Agro-processing.
Pertinent stakeholders from government offices and farm representatives reflected their comments on the survey, which will be an input to have a concrete impact to improve the sector doing business. As a closing remark the executive director of EHPEA Ato. Tewodros Zewdie emphasized working in synergy for a better result.
A consultative meeting on the draft Agriculture and Rural Development Policy held at Adama, Haile Resort Hotel
A consultative meeting on the draft Agriculture and Rural Development Policy held at Adama, Haile Resort Hotel. The meeting organized by EHPEA, considering the current need to exploit the revision opportunity to incorporate the concern challenges of the industry so as to create better environment.
The newly draft policy comprises twelve governance structures; Land and Natural Resource Management Governance, Technology and Input, Irrigation and Agriculture Water, Output markets, Export and import substitution, Rural development, Infrastructure, Private sector participation, Finance, Regulatory system, Institutional arrangements and Inclusive and sustainability, were presented and discussed at length.
At the meeting different pertinent stakeholders from the government and private sector reflected their comments which will be an input to the draft policy.
The Agricultural and Rural Development Policy revised after 18 years aimed to incorporate the latest developments and also address bottlenecks with regard to policies, regulations, directives and guidelines of the horticulture industry
Officials and officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have visited Red Fox Ethiopia and Joytech farms
Officials and officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have visited Red Fox Ethiopia and Joytech farms on December 26,2020.
EHPEA organized this program to create awareness and share experience aiming for facilitation of foriegn market linkage.
On his opening remark Ato. Wondale Habtamu, State Minister of MoA stated that the Ministry is currently working on Horticulture strategy, policy and roadmap which will smooth the sector investment.
H.E Tsion Teklu, State Minister in charge of Economic Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also added, her Ministry readiness to collaborat with EHPEA and MoA to attract more foreign direct investment in the sector and to facilitate market opportunities through Ethiopian diplomatic missions abroad. Since the sector is employing more women labour force it would be another area of cooperation for tapping this opportunity to create employment for women returnees from the Middle East countries.
EHPEA organized a workshop on the Draft Proclamation of Contract Farming, December 12 at Adama Haile Resort
EHPEA organized a workshop on the Draft Proclamation of Contract Farming, December 12 at Adama Haile Resort. The proclamation aimed to provide a standard by putting a comprehensive legal framework that facilitates the transfer of technology, knowledge, and skills, and market linkage between a producer and contractor to improve production and productivity.
Ato Wondale Habtamu, State Minister of MoA, remarked the Ministry readiness to reform pertinent policies which benefit the Horticulture industry.
EHPEA Executive Director Ato. Tewodros Zewdie, added that the Association gives due attention on the policy advocacy to resolve its members challenges and improve the doing business of the Horticulture industry in Ethiopia.
At the workshop representatives of EHPEA member farms reflected their comments which will be used as an input in the proclamation.
The Annual General Assembly of EHPEA held Nov, 27/2020 at Skylight Hotel Addis Ababa.
The Annual General Assembly of EHPEA held yesterday at Skylight Hotel Addis Ababa. At the meeting a progress report presented by Mr. Tewodros Zewdie, Executive Director of EHPEA, and an Audit report presented by the audit firm Mrs. Menbere Leul where the participants endorsed the issues and the audit report unanimously. As per the main agendas of the meeting the following items were endorsed by the member farm participants; Revision of membership fee, Allocation of the revised cost-sharing for the sustainability of the training delivered by EHPEA to share 50% each party (EHPEA and beneficiaries), A five-year strategic plan, Building the headquarter and training center of EHPEA to further support its member and the sector in general.
In the meeting the participants reflected their concerns on the doing business challenges and the executive committee reacted to some of the challenges raised above and took the assignment to handle those challenges which needs further follow-up.
EHPEA and Trade Mark East Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in advancing and ensuring export trade in Ethiopia
EHPEA and Trade Mark East Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in advancing and ensuring export trade in Ethiopia by supporting the Association to develop the necessary protocol to mitigate COVID-19 impact through the TMEA Safe Trade Emergency Facility (STEF) project, capacitate EHPEA in coordinating sector players with relevant stakeholders and to strengthen existing engagement framework. The collaboration will be conducted with in the next two years.
