The Ethiopian Horticulture and Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has officially launched a new urban agriculture program titled “Vertical Farming for Young Urban Farmers under the Employee Innovation Fund Program” in partnership with The Mastercard Foundation and Digital Opportunity Trust. The initiative is designed to equip young people in urban areas with practical skills and technical knowledge in modern vertical farming systems, contributing to sustainable food production and youth employment.
The program aims to reach 600 young urban farmers, providing them with comprehensive technical guidance on vertical farming practices and supporting pathways toward employment and job creation within the horticulture sector. By promoting innovative production methods suited to limited urban spaces, the program responds to growing challenges related to land scarcity, food security, and sustainable urban development.
Vertical farming, the core focus of the program, enables crop production in stacked layers using different production technologies. This approach significantly reduces land and water use, lowers environmental footprints, and brings fresh produce closer to urban consumers, thereby minimizing transportation-related emissions.
The launch event brought together key stakeholders and partners from the horticulture and agribusiness sectors. During the event, Mr. Roy Brosh, Chief Business Officer of Joytech fresh Plc, presented advanced hydroponics vertical farming technologies, highlighting their potential to maximize productivity and resource efficiency. In addition, Ato. Dinku Desalegne, Farm Manager at Metrolux Flowers, shared practical experiences in hydroponic strawberry production, demonstrating the commercial viability and adaptability of vertical farming systems.
The event also featured active discussions and knowledge exchange among participants, reflecting strong collaboration and shared commitment to advancing urban agriculture in the city and around.
Ato. Tewodros Zewdie, Executive Director of EHPEA, emphasized that urban vertical farming is not only a solution to food production challenges in rapidly growing cities but also a strategic opportunity to improve nutrition, promote environmental sustainability, and create meaningful employment for young people. EHPEA continues to play a leading role in fostering innovation and resilience within the horticulture sector.
