Category: Our News

Ethiopian Airlines Group has launched an innovative capacity development initiative aimed at creating local value in agricultural products.

The airline said the initiative was tailored towards supporting cooperative unions comprising millions of farmers with innovations and technology, thereby ensuring their international market penetration.

While discussing with Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Group Chief Executive Officer at Ethiopian headquarters, recently, stakeholders drawn from government agencies and farmers’ cooperative unions expressed their gratitude on the launch of the capacity development programme and vowed to work together.

Tewolde on his part remarked: “We are delighted to have launched the initiative which is geared towards enhancing the livelihood of Ethiopian farmers as well as supporting them in competing in the global market place. We will keep sharing our experience and underpin the implementation of the import substitution strategy of our country with consistent and progressive local value creation (LVC) endeavors.”

Ethiopian sources organic produces directly from the farm and significantly contributes to the import substitution move of the economy.

Kenya is now importing tomatoes from Ethiopia to bridge the market deficit that has seen the commodity’s prices more than double in the past one month.

A single tomato is currently retailing at Sh30 in most parts of the country up from between Sh5 and 10.Traders who spoke to the Star said that the price of the imported tomatoes has also gone up  and now costs Sh4,000 per crate compared to last year’s price of Sh2, 000.

Once in Kenya, this is  divided into three categories  with a large crate retailing at Sh 18,00o,  Sh 11,000 for the medium crate and the Sh4, 000 for the small crate.

Last year, the large crate retailed at Sh8,000 while the Medium and small crates retailed at Sh4, 500 and Sh2, 000 respectively.Traders have warned of a continued shortage blamed on changing rain patterns that has affected production.

Tomatoes are 95 per cent water, with most varieties soaking up summer rains to become pump and juicy on the vine. The weather forecast for March-April-May (MAM) 2020 shows that enhanced rainfall is expected; however above average rainfall is expected across the country.

 The expected rainfall is likely to be higher than the long-term average amounts (above normal) for the season. The climatic change has had huge impact on tomato production as the vegetable is fairly adaptable and grows well in warm conditions in optimum temperatures of 20 -25 degrees during the day and 15 -17 degrees at night.

“The current change of climatic conditions has led to very low yields on our own farms. It is also expensive to transport the tomatoes because they are perishable and also the crate has little produce” John Gichoke, a trader at Nairobi’s Wakulima Market said.

According to the National Farmers Service (NFS), tomato farming is appropriate during the dry season as the crop is less prone to diseases such as tomato blight, leaf curling and powdery mildew which cause more than half of the losses in affected plants.

“I need to sustain my family because the economy is tough at the moment. After importing the tomatoes , dividing into different quantities is what brings in the little profit.” Mutuma Joseph, a trader at Nairobi’s Muthurwa Market said.

“We have to sell the tomatoes at a higher price because it is also expensive to purchase from the Ethiopian traders and the goods are also perishable therefore we incur losses when some of the tomatoes arrive when they are already decayed.” Joy Muhambe, a trader at Nairobi’s Fig Tree market said.

Figures from the latest inflation report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) food basket, indicates that there was an increase in the price of tomatoes from Sh90.28 to Sh95.78 a kilo, a rise of 6.1 per cent.

In Ethiopia, tomato price is imposed by intermediates that usually set a low farm-gate price to boost their profit margin at end-markets.

According to a study conducted in Ethiopia, 98 per cent of the total tomato production is sold in the market while merely two per cent is used for household consumption. Kenya grows more than 400,000 tonnes of the vegetable every year, which corresponds to seven per cent of its total horticultural production making it one of sub-Saharan Africa’s top tomato producers.

A Sexual Reproductive Health Right (SRHR) project designed to address the floriculture industry workers health, wellbeing, gender equality and create a decent working environment; launched on February 05, 2020 at Capital Hotel.

The project funded by Danish Family Planning Association and will be implemented in partnership with Ethiopian Horticulture Producers Exporters Association (EHPEA), Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) , & Family Guidance Association Ethiopia FGAE), on a selected 20 EHPEA member farms and organizations who are dealing with agriculture horticulture sector who are a member of Ethiopian Employers Federation.

On the launching event different stakeholders from government and non-governmental organization, beneficial farm management representatives, Confederation of Industrial Employers Federation, Ethiopian employers Federation, UNFPA were in attendance.

The opening remark given by MOLSA Industrial Peace Relation Directorate Director Mr. Fikadu Gebru, and Mr. Tewodros Zewdie, EHPEA Executive Director and closing remark by Dr. Batri Reshu, Clinical Director of FGAE.

With growers looking to optimise their crop growth and the consistent control of their environment, the options and different formulas to success are vast.

The importance of a synergistic relationship between heat and humidity is an important challenge to overcome. To ensure you’re growing a happy and healthy plant it is important to promote the most suitable environment.

Higher levels of humidity or setting the incorrect temperature in your greenhouse will cause the environment to be too wet and bring stress to the plants. Stressed plants are more prone to fungus, pests and insects.

The use of fogging systems in commercial growing is tipped to be the next industry standard; Bridge Greenhouses, based in the UK, are expanding their product base by teaming up with a German innovator to bring their latest automated fogging solutions to British greenhouses.

This latest high-pressure fogging technology is paving the way for greater control of any climate, with the thin fog providing an increased humidity and cooling effect, to give plants the optimum growing conditions.

The new kit sees water pressures supplied into the air within the ranges of 70-100 bar releasing a fog via high-pressure nozzles. The fog evaporates and withdraws heat energy from the air so that two effects can be achieved simultaneously: Cooling and humidification.

With low humidity levels, comes slow or sometimes no rate of photosynthesis, therefore it is crucial to create the correct environment for the crop. Giving plants the appropriate humidity levels will allow them to flourish due to the opening of the pores on the leaf; this results in deep breathing and no risk of excessive water loss.

The industry standard droplet size of the fog needs to be smaller than 20 micrometres if you want good cooling performance and quick evaporation. However, Bridge’s fogging system produces miniscule droplets of less than 5 micrometres that evaporate before forming on the plant, meaning this system produces a uniformed and healthy crop with minimal risk of fungus wilting and insects.

Bridge’s fogging systems can be designed to suit any greenhouse structure and automated to work alongside other greenhouse technologies already being implemented.

Bridge also specialise in the design of greenhouse structures, biomass heating and vertical farming solutions.

The bilateral relation between Ethiopia and the Netherlands is strengthening in a range of investment areas, notably in the agriculture sector.

In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands Embassy in Ethiopia announced that the Netherlands is supporting over 150 million euros worth of projects in agriculture, health, and private sector development.

The Netherlands is the major and largest investor in Ethiopia’s flower farm sector, with 300 million USD worth of flowers exported to the Netherlands, he said, and we are working to further strengthen it in the future.

According to him, the Netherlands also supports Ethiopia’s Agricultural Vocational Education sector through projects like Bright Future in Agriculture (BFA), where the aim is to provide hands-on education and supply qualified exposed graduates to the sector.

The project is underway in collaboration with Arba Minch University and is implemented in 12 TVETs in Ethiopia.

Enyew Getnet, Federal TVET Institute Deputy Director-General, for his part said that the project is underway as a 2.7 million euro joint project, and its design is to strengthen the local agricultural TVETs.

The project works to capacitate several agricultural colleges namely: Bako, Kombolcha, Alage, Wolayita Sodo and Wereta TVET colleges in producing manpower that is capable and skilful in supporting farmers, both in the urban and hinterlands, and thereby help to ensure food security.

As to him, the project concentrates on both the dairy and horticulture sub-sector. It operates based on the fundamental notion that improving the quality and employability of agricultural TVET graduates necessitates changes on local, regional and federal levels through triple helix partnerships.

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) organized experience sharing visit to capacitate its key stakeholders of the sector who are working in the area of pest management (Plant Protection).

Integrated Pest Management (IPM), is one of the components of the Ethio-Dutch Program for Horticulture Development, a joint partnership Program of Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ethiopia.
The visit program deliberated to enhance the experiences, knowledge and skill of key stakeholders decision makers in the area of IPM technologies registration and promotion. On the event a team of experts and decision makers from Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ethiopian Investment commission (EIC) and Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has made an experience sharing study tour to Holland and Kenya from January 1st to 12th, 2020.

In Holland; the team visited Koppert Biological System; packaging, processing & unpacking centers at Floral Holland (AQ Aalsmeer unpacking center, Sher/Afri flora unpacking center, BSI unpacking centers); auction centers (Flora Holland and Aalsmeer); Post harvest Chain of Floral Holland, K & N phytosanitory center.

In addition, in the Republic of Kenya, the team made a visit to International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Real IPM, and Dudutech. At the institutions, apart from visiting key demos what the institutions were doing in the area of pests and pest managements;  presentation, discussion and explanation on topical issues of pest management was made among the visiting team and senior staff of visited institutions.

Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) organized a capacity building workshop on “Workplace gender equality and ways on prevention of gender based violence” at Bishoftu town January 14^th and 15th, 2020.  The workshop is organized to enhance the awareness of responsible government office staffs who has a pivotal role on commercial horticulture farm practices towards prevention of workplace violence against women on the daily farm practices of gender equality.

Identified government stakeholders from Wolemera Woreda, Ejere woreda and Sebeta town of Labor and Social Affair, Women Children and Youth Office, Justic e Office and Police are among the participants.

The workshop was a good platform to strengthen the partnership of commercial horticulture farms with government stakeholders in a way set direction on prevention of workplace gender based violence.

The workshop concluded by developing a joint action plan to work in collaboration to address the workplace Gender Based violence and Occupational Health and Safety issues.

Researchers at Spain’s University of Alicante are addressing high levels of agricultural waste by using it in car parts. Head researcher María Carmen Garrigós told FreshFruitPortal.com that the work, named Project Barbara, places new value in agricultural residue.

The team works to incorporate parts of fruits and vegetables into things like dashboards and car doors, among other things. They do this by breaking down parts of the products and fusing them with already-existing materials.

Through 3D technology, said Garrigós, they “create car parts and construct mechanical devices that work better”. According to Garrigós, the project uses lemons, pomegranates, broccoli and almond skins. Additives extracted from these agricultural products protect car parts and make them more stable, he explained. For instance, the properties of almond skin provided a structure similar to wood in strength, detailed Garrigós.

Currently, the team uses fruits and vegetables like to create natural colors for cars. This provides a different kind of color than the typical synthetics. “Organic products could also be used for their natural colors and fragrances.

Through antimicrobial activation, things like carrots and oranges could be used,” she explained. In addition, lemon residue can be used to make materials that give off a nice smell that could be useful for car manufacturers and rental places. Even corn contains polysaccharides, which can be used to improve the properties of some parts. She also added that these products often create a lot of waste in the region. This is why the team chose these specific produce items. Barbara began in May 2017. With plans to finish in April of 2020, it was financed by a program in the EU called BBI JU (Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking). The project is a collaboration of various research groups in the university and the technological center Aitiip.

The European avocado market supply shortage is expected to ease over the coming weeks, but importers say the availability of larger sizes will remain limited.

Their comments came after a very different few months in the EU avocado market compared to last year, when oversupply pushed prices to rock bottom.

Elena Rogojnikova of Netherlands-based The Greenery told FreshFruitPortal.com that the avocado market so far in 2019 has been “exactly the opposite” of 2018.

“In the summer of 2018 followed by September and October, we faced a huge oversupply of Hass avocados from South Africa and Peru that resulted in extremely low market prices,” she said.

“In 2019, the lack of avocados in the European market is a consequence of the situation in the USA. Due to higher prices over there, a lot of producers from Mexico and Peru have sent their avocados there instead of Europe.”

Rogojnikova explained the shortage this year occurred mostly in bigger sizes (from 12 to 20), which fetched “extremely high” prices. Conversely, she said that there is an abundance of small Hass avocados – mainly from Chile and Colombia – putting prices of those sizes under pressure. Chile’s crop is around 25% lower, she said, and the ongoing drought is one of the main reasons behind the smaller sizings.

In addition, she said there have been “some logistical difficulties” due to the social unrest in the country. However, Colombia Hass avocado production is growing every year, she said. Spain has also recently started its season, and Israeli Hass supplies are expected to start in December. “Over the coming weeks, bigger sizes will remain short and the prices will remain high,” she said.

Relative avocado undersupply likely to continue

Matthew Glancy, procurement manager at U.K.-based Minor, Weir and Willis had also found the 2018 avocado market situation to be completely reversed this year.

The severe undersupply of fruit which had made conditions challenging, he said. Some of the bigger Peruvian shippers had seen crop reductions of 30%-50% and had decided to focus more heavily on what fruit they had on the U.S. market, where the California crop was down substantially. He said the Chilean avocados are far smaller than recent years because of the drought.

The season would also likely finish earlier than normal, he said. “On a normal year they would finish around March, but this season it would finish in the first or second week of January,” he said.

With Colombian avocado volumes rising around this time of year – and with Spanish, Mexican and some early Israeli Hass coming through – he said that fruit availability would increase. However, he still expected a general undersupply situation to continue. “We’ll still be relatively short on supply,” he said. “But there are a couple of things that can tip it – somebody coming it with a bit more might make a difference. It doesn’t take a huge amount to go into an oversupply or undersupply situation. “What seems to be happening – a lot to do with Chile – is there’s a lot of smaller fruit available, and large and medium fruit is still relatively short on supply. So we need people to be looking at to be promoting what we’ve got.”

Buoyant green-skinned avocado market

He added that this year there seemed to be a greater move toward green-skinned avocados, which are naturally larger than Hass.

Rogojnikova noted that the green-skinned avocado season from South Africa was stable this year, albeit with an earlier finish than normal. “There was enough volume and nearly no quality issues,” she said. Israeli Galil and Ettinger varieties are in the avocado market with slightly lower volumes than last year, she said, which has resulted in “stable and high prices”.

The quality of both Galil and Ettinger was good this year, with no major quality issues. Ettinger will be followed by Arad and Pinkerton in December,” she said. Meanwhile, the Spanish Bacon season is almost finished, and the first Fuerte avocados have fetched reasonably good prices.

Identifying and mitigating exposures to occupational hazards before work begins is the core point of all safety and health professionals. Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) training department, offers a basic outline through its interpretation of the Occupational Health and Safety Training.

The training delivered for 33 OHS officers drawn from EHPEA member farms at its office meeting hall from December 31, 2019- January 03, 2020 having an objective of creating Safe Working Environment in the farm by focusing on course content such as; Importance of Health & Safety, Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment, OHS Audit, OHS Policy Preparation and Implementation.

In addition to class room training; a one-day practical farm visit has been conducted at Olij Roses PLC to share an experience on implementation of safe working practices.