The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) member farms in Ziwayi cluster has extolled the collective efforts employed by key stakeholders to the success in combating False Codling Moth (FCM), which was a major threat to Ethiopia’s floriculture production and export performance.
EHPEA has been actively engaged in managing FCM through specialized teams, trainings and protocols and science-based system approach.
An event was held on Thursday to recognize individuals from different institutions, who have played a significant role in achieving milestones in the fight against FCM, a threat to Ethiopia’s floriculture continued success and export growth.
On the occasion, EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie highlighted the extensive collaborative efforts undertaken by EHPEA, the Ethiopian Agriculture Authority (EAA), farms, and partners, including among others, Embassy of the Kingdome of the Netherlands (EKN), Trade Mark Africa, Union Fleurs- International Flower Trade Association, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Products Safety Authority (NVWA), CBI and COLEAD.
He also reiterated that respective measures were taken at national, farm and EHPEA levels in the process involving team formation, conducting overseas study tour, awareness raising sessions and massive training as well as designing and implementing protocol and science-based system approach.
Highlighting that best practices from Kenya were successfully adopted and implemented in the country to tackle the problem, the Executive Director commended all stakeholders and partners for their significant contributions in safeguarding the floriculture from such devastating pest.
Handing over certificates to individual professionals who played active role in the process, EAA Deputy Director Wondale Habtamu (PhD) noted that the dedicated efforts and collaboration demonstrated in tackling FCM serve as valuable lesson and a model of best practices for other sectors to emulate when addressing such challenges that threaten development and growth.
He also stated the rigorous journeys made throughout the process by collaborating with key partners and stakeholders towards the success which safeguards the sector and keeps the smooth production and export of Ethiopia’s horticulture products.
Reminding the need to say vigilant, the Deputy Director emphasized the importance of strengthening such impactful coordinated efforts and fostering dedicated collaboration among partners within the sub-sector and beyond to prevent potential infestations by FCM and other pests.
EHPEA Board Member, Lulit Tadele emphasized that this big achievement represents a national success story, even though various individuals and institutions played a role in the process.
She emphasized that achieving such recognition and even the possibility of export would not have been feasible without the dedicated efforts in combating the issue. She praised all those involved for contributing to the success of the country’s promising sector.
