The need for proactive synergy between the government, private sector and academic institution to realize an efficient and smart agro-logistics in Ethiopia deliberated at the sensitization workshop organized by Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) today at Best Western Hotel, Addis Ababa.

Agriculture plays a significant role in the country’s economy contributing to economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, food security and foreign currency earnings.

Even though the horticulture sector was introduced to the country only in the past two decades, it becomes the second top hard currency generator to the country and playing a significant role in the socio-economic wellbeing of the society.

As the nature of horticultural products require well established and integrated infrastructure for storing and moving products with proper equipment to guarantee that the horticulture products are handled properly in order to maintain their quality and preserve their shelf-life, its important to capacitate the port and facilities, electrical energy and cold chain, road infrastructure & agro-logistics digitalization to be competent with other countries as well as meet the international standards.

The workshop was a great platform to cross fertilize knowledge between the experts, scholars and private sector with the way forward to strengthen the role of agro-logistics policy directives and management to bring more efficiency in the entire chain harmonization.