Category: Our News

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) organised a consultative workshop for member farms to gather inputs and feedbacks by presenting its draft 5 year strategic plan on August 16, 2019 at Capital hotel.

In collaboration with its project partner bfz (Training and Development Centre of the Bavarian state of Germany) the strategy plan has been prepared as part of its main project engagement on strengthening the institutional development of the Association.

On the preparation process a team drawn from EHPEA and bfz, with technical support from an independent international consultant pursued gathering and analysing various inputs and data relevant to complete preparation of the strategic plan.

Moreover the strategic plan was enriched with the participation of key stakeholders and by conducting a depth contextual analysis as well as scanning internal and external environment, by applying PESTLE/ SWOT analysis. The strategic plan is expected to provide the leadership, management, staff, members, and other stakeholders with a clear roadmap and strategic priorities EHPEA has chosen to realize its vision and accomplish its mission while fulfilling its mandates in the coming five years. The strategic plan has come up with five strategic pillars.

The overall strategic plan of EHPEA serves as a roadmap, maximizes opportunities and minimizes risks, increases stakeholder engagement, and facilitates alignment within the EHPEA, helps to set priorities, and increases effectiveness and brings more impact. It is expected to assist EHPEA in financial sustainability as well as in the allocation of scarce resources to achieve competitive advantage. It also helps EHPEA leaders as innovative in growing EHPEA’s assets and core values.

On the diagnosis session member farm representatives reflected their ideas, expectations and valuable inputs which are of paramount importance   to further enrich the draft strategy plan.

Jogo Women Empowerment Coffee House- Florensis Ethiopia Plc

Florensis Ethiopia Plc Constructing a Coffee House for Jogo Reforestation Site as an Income Generating Initiative

Florensis Ethiopia PLC is constructing a coffee house for Jogo Reforestation Site in which the project expenditure raises around half a million ETB. The initiative aimed to benefits 20 women organized by Lume woreda women’s and children’s affairs office.

Florensis Ethiopia stated that this is one of the biggest CSR project implemented solely so far. This project also creates job opportunity for the community youth in which labor for the construction which takes around half of the expenditure through a contract and the materials supply also sourced from the area youths and entrepreneurs.

The Jogo reforestation project had been managed under the local non- governmental organization; Social and Environmental Development Organization (SAEDO) initiated and owned by the cluster farms to execute several joint corporate social responsibility and communal support activities. The site covered 11 hectares of degraded land and it is recalled that 6000 seedlings were planted at Jogo area in Lume district by 60 volunteers in 2014 and 18,000 seedlings in 2015 and distributed about 2000 seedlings to kebeles, planted more than 10,000 in 2017, 10,000 seedlings in 2018.

There was a plan also on the way to continue plantations and also build recreational cultural houses for the reforestation area organized women to empower them with the intention of handing over the area at the end for the sustainability of the reforestation and rehabilitation project.

With an ever increasing demand for cutting edge innovative technologies in horticultural crops production in Ethiopia, Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) and Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute (EBTI) are jointly moving ahead to establish a win-win partnership. With a projection of this grand idea in mind, EHPEA has organized a one day field visit for the EBTI scientists on August 13, 2019.

The field visit was made to three selected farms at Koka cluster. The farms were Florensis Abyssinia, Ethio-cuttings (or Syngenta) and Red Fox PLCs . Other Key stakeholders in attendance were Ministry of Agriculture, Environment-Forest-Climate Change Commission, Arsi University and Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research. The aim of the visit was to impart the scientists with first hand authentic and multi-dimensional challenges of the sector with an emphasis in the area of pests and solid waste management for sustainability.

During the visit, a fruit full discussion was made among the participants and all the three farms farm managers’ have pointed out that their door is wide open for any scientist who is interested to address the multi-pronged challenges of the sector adding value to their produces. Challenges need be addressed to enhance the productivity and quality of the produce by mandated institutions like EBTI and EIAR. Thus the move to enter in to formal agreement between EHPEA and EBTI is very much welcomed by EHPEA member farms.

EBTI in their part appreciated the initiation by EHPEA and mentioned that at EBTI there exists a vested interest to research on high value horticultural crops and the opportunity shall be grabbed by each and every scientists of the institute in the area of their respective specialization. Dr Lemma of the institute, stated that the institute is working on the development of Memorandum of Agreement which will soon be discussed between the two organization and ratified by both with consensus. Then after EHPEA and EBTI will enter in to agreement formally to collaborate in an innovative endeavours that will benefit both the institutes and the country at large.

This collaboration will enable to strengthen the capacity of the institute to innovate technologies enabling farms to cope up with the ever changing climate and productivity impacting factors like pests. This will enable the country to harness the huge potential of the horticulture sector. Thus, considering the limitless future of horticulture in the country, envisioning the necessity of win-win partnership and the dire demand of technologies in the sector; EHPEA believe that the would-be collaboration will yield an examplenary model results in the near future. The ultimate essence of the collaboration is to support the vision of the member farms and actively engage in the role that their vision truly happen.

Koka cluster meeting held at Florensis Ethiopia, with the presence of eight farms. In the meeting a number of cluster based issues and challenges deliberated at length. Voluntary cluster based minimum wage, infrastructural challenges such as road, network, power breakage, collective bargaining issues, customs and revenue issues and joint corporate social responsibility (CSR) project initiatives were among the agendas discussed in depth.

One of the interventions implemented by Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) is focusing on environment conservation through both liquid and solid waste management, wetland system and composting respectively.

In line with this, EHPEA management visited Florensis Ethiopia plc focusing on wetland construction for the treatment of waste water generated from the farm. The wetland construction was initiated by EHPEA in collaboration with Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI) and Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) aimed to treat the liquid waste water generate from farms to the highest purified effluent level. Up to date the wetland executed in 30 of EHPEA member farms.

In this regard, Florensis Ethiopia plc has been one of the beneficiary member farms highly committed and engaged in the technology and the construction as shown in the picture below, has accomplished the foundation and gravel bed hydroponics (GBH) with fully concrete material.

The farm progressed around 60% of the construction of wetland in which only the filling of substrates and planting of recommended aquatic plants remain.

PM Abiy launched the Investment and Jobs Creation National committee this morning in the presence of Regional Presidents and Federal Ministers.

Noting that Ethiopia has to unlock the full potential of the private sector with a view to creating sustainable & decent jobs, he reiterated that the importance of putting the country on a path to a virtuous cycle of development.

The committee, Chaired by PM Abiy, comprises the Deputy Prime Minister, Presidents of the 9 Regional Governments; Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Mayors; 2 PMO representatives and 10 Federal Ministries.

The Ministries include Trade & Industry, Peace, Agriculture, Urban Dev’t & Construction, Labor & Social Affairs Innovation & Technology; Water, Irrigation & Electricity; Mines & Petroleum; Tourism & Culture; and Science & Higher Education.

The national committee will ensure the creation of sustainable & decent work by aligning policy and institutional systems. It will also play a leading role in securing & expanding investments closely & ensure implementation of plans to increase investments and job creation.

The committee is also set to coordinate for effective outputs, the work of Federal & Regional entities and other stakeholders in creating a conducive investment environment to accelerate jobs creation.

Every year b/n 2-3mil youth enter the employ ability age range and add to #Ethiopia’s human resource & talent pool. While #Ethiopia’s economic performance is progressive, more work needs to be done to create a conducive investment climate towards job creation.

The Doing Business Initiative and committee led by PM Abiy has marked key milestones towards the goal of creating an enabling business env’t in which the pvt sector can play its critical jobs creation role.

These two committees working in sync are expected to facilitate the goal of creating 3mil jobs by the end of E.C 2012. Key sectors identified and given special focus to accelerate jobs creation nation wide include agriculture, mining, tourism and IT.

The National Committee will meet every two months to evaluate progress and follow-up on issues requiring immediate action to unlock performance. Following the meeting, PM Abiy and the committee members planted seedlings together for a #GreenLegacy.

Herburg is a Netherland origin company operating on flower business for over 40 years.  With its excellent experience in growing roses it opened the first nursery out of Holland in Ziway, Ethiopia located about 163 km east from the capital.

Currently, Herburg Roses has 40 hectares of greenhouse rose production exporting to UK market about 2million stems on weekly bases.As part of its good will to support the surrounding community the company implemented various corporate social activities.

Under the education support program which was started in 2016, Herburg facilitate school materials and uniforms for 150 students every year including for its employees by facilitating school materials for their children’s and to achieve academic excellence.

As Erosion is a major problem in Africa Herburg is involved on planting trees and contributing money for better live environment in being partner with IDH (Sustainable trade Initiative) in reforestation project .

As part of housing project, Herburg constructed houses for internally displaced peoples from Somali region in 2018 which costs ETB 863,000.00.  In addition to this , by contributing 600,000.00 ETB  a new drinking water line have been installed in batu town.

Among others, Herburg Roses extend in kind supports for the local community members, relevant stakeholders and employees as well such as; donation for East Shoa Zone Higher court as requested, sponsorship for federation, donation for light anti-HIV/AIDS organization, sponsorship for Sher School students for graduation to publish magazine every year, ODA-tombola unity for development donation for lottery, Health insurance coverage for 30 people for the community, supporting water at Bulbula area two kebele’s, Supporting elders 3 times in a year (for Holidays) and financial contribution.

In addition to the above mentioned CSR engagements, Herburg Roses created a partnership with other farms in Ziway cluster and engage in a number of community benefiting projects.

Ethiopian scientist won award coming up with ways of tapping Beles for producing fuel for cooking food and boiling

The manufacturing and exporting of Beles fruit to the international market needs an active role of stakeholders mainly that of Tigray state Industry Corporation, UNIDO Beles Project, Adigrat Town Administration and Adigrat University Beles Institute, so stated the Adigrat Manufacturing Bureau.

An enterprise, owned by an association of 12 young people, have recently stated to process and export Beles fruit to the international market mainly to Israel aft it received training prepared jointly by Adigrat Unibersity Beles Institute and UNIDO, said Bureau’s One-Stop-Centre Coordinator, Elias Tsegaye.

Beles is a type of cactus which provides a highly nutritious food source that can be processed into a diverse range of food products.

The Tigray State Industry Corporation, the first stakeholder charged with of the manufacturing and exporting process had not readied itself in-terms of budget to support the manufacturing and market chain process this summer harvest season, he added.

Due to the lack of coordinated efforts of stakeholders, through assessors from Kenya had observed the production process, the enterprise has not yet got certification according to the Bureau.

He sated that due to lack of active involvement of the aforementioned stakeholders, the market chain proved tardy in brining significant results.

In its news release on June 2013, UNIDO had announced that it has launched an agribusiness development project to help rural communities in Tigray establish a stable source of income focused on Beles.

“UNIDO and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) sign an agreement on a USD 600,000 grant in support of the Beles-based agribusiness development project in the Tigray state.”

The project was to help establish a modern processing plant which will manufacture a stable – supply of Belese based products, it further stated.

Dr. Zebib Yenus (a researcher ) has become the first Ethiopian Scientist to be awarded FLAIR research project that focuses on synthesizing and prototyping of cost effective selective solar absorber surface based on Cactus pear “Beles” in order to heat water/cook/pasteurized milk in rural areas of Africa where installation of electricity is difficult. The award is, a generously funded by the Royal Society with the support from the UK’s Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) in partnership with the African Academy of science for talented African early career researchers who have the potential to become leaders in their field.

She is an associate professor at Adigrt University and also works closely with the experts in the field internationally including Canada, Europe, and South Africa. The award is 300,000 pound which will significantly further her research, training and leadership goals.

The Awardees were selected from a pool of over 700 applicants and they will undertake research projects in the area of renewable energy; food security; water and health as these are the main challenges facing Africans today, couple months ago.

Adigrat University, Institute of Beles Coordiantor Yemane Kahsay, for his part, said that the University is working with governmental and nongovernmental actors to help the society gain benefits from manufacturing of Beles fruits and pads.

Yemane also called for urgent protection measures to restore the Beles affecting weed (cochineal) that attacked 75,000 hectares of Beles in most parts of southern Tigray and some other parts of the state.

Beles is the Amharic name for Opuntia ficusindica (also known as Nopales or prickly pear cactus). It provides highly nutritious food, with low levels of saturated fatty acids and very low levels of cholesterol.

The fruits and pads can be used for the production of numerous processed and fresh products, such as fresh fruits, juices, marmalades, Jelly candies, tea, ice cream and dessert sauces, as well as alcoholic drinks.

Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Raphael Morav said that Israeli investors have been showing a growing desire to invest in Ethiopia’s agriculture sector capitalizing on its huge potential and geographic proximity.

‘Ethiopia – Israel Seminar on Cooperation in Agriculture’ organized to overview the involvement of Israeli companies and insight new opportunities and shortcomings in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector was held here in Addis Ababa. Speaking on the event, Ambassador Morav said that the seminar was a good opportunity to discuss Israeli companies’ engagement in Ethiopia’s agricultural investment and learn about the country’s policy regarding foreign investment in agribusiness.

The Ambassador also stated that the Technical Cooperation Program in Smallholder Horticulture among MASHAV (Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation), USAID and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture have been registering significant success in supplying more than 500,000 high standard varieties of avocado seedlings suitable for export annually.

Awareness creation for the huge potential of avocado export among Ethiopian smallholder farmers and private sector, establishments of farmers’ clusters with a modern solar irrigation system and putting the basis for commercial production thereby helping the export of avocado to the European market are some of the program’s achievements.

Ambassador Morav expressed gratitude for the Ethiopian government for the commitment it has shown to strengthen the good collaboration between the two countries in the field of agriculture. Agriculture Minister Oumer Hussien said on his part that Israeli agricultural investors have come a long way with the Ethiopian government in its effort to strengthen the sector’s contribution to the country’s economic growth. Among many, Israel plays a pivotal role in promoting Ethiopia’s avocado in the global market and soytech’s herb export.

The Minister stated that Ethiopia needs to share Israel’s success of getting enormous yield from small plots of land and learn from its rich experience in irrigated agriculture. The government also gives due consideration to modernizing farming practices and increasing productivity through addressing technological and financial setbacks.

Oumer pointed out that Israel is a country with a high level of agricultural technologies and the coming of Israeli companies will have a great significance to the growth of Ethiopia’s agricultural sector. The Minister expressed optimism that Israel would continue supporting Ethiopia in its journey to becoming one of the middle-income countries by 2025 through productive investment and cooperation. He also assured his Ministry’s commitment to reinforce cooperation and support for the successful operation of Israeli companies.

Representatives of Ministry of Agriculture, Israeli businessmen investing in Ethiopia and representatives of 19 Israeli companies and NGOs’ already active in the country, officials and experts from the Israeli Embassy were in attendance of the seminar.

In the morning of the 24^th of July 2019, the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) staff, management and partners gathered at Ayertena condominium supporting the tree-planting campaign which was part of the National Green Legacy Initiative. After a brief introduction of the tree planting procedures EHPEA executive director Mr. Tewodros Zewdie stated in his speech that the Association brought seedlings of various fruit plants collected from associations member farms with consideration that the neighbouring community would enjoy the fruits of plants in the future, He all also added a remark that it is the communities’ obligation to take care of the plans up keep.

The country wide event aimed at planting 200 million trees in a single day in 1,000 selected sites across the country; to tackle the effects of deforestation and climate change. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed congratulated citizens for not only meeting its collective Green Legacy goal but also exceeding the set target.

Minister of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia Mr. Getahun Mekuria said that more than 350 million trees were planted in 12 hours that broke the world record held by India since 2016.