Operating with 2,300 employees on its 120-hectare fields in Hawassa, Sidama Regional State, Klaver Flowers keeps growing with increasing farm expansion and sustainable production, thereby creating decent employments and boosting export earning of quality summer flower varieties.

Facilitated by the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), State Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa, today paid a field visit to the largest Gypsophilia producing Farm in Africa.

The State Minister’s field visit is a practical demonstration of the Ministry’s continued commitment to supporting the private sector in the industry, and thereby promoting the horticulture subsector and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.

Using in-house produced seedlings, which were previously imported from overseas, the Farm is exploiting its potential fully, also with dedicated engagement to bolster its production to 100 million stems from 70 million stems of diverse summer flower now, says the Farm Manager Gulilat Bekele.

Starting with the humble plots of three hectares in 2013, the Farm, due to favorable and supportive investment environment, currently operates on increased hectares of land with keen interest of expansion to boost its multi-million-dollar export of cut flowers of Gypsophilia, Limonium, Craspedia, Molucella, Veronica, Sunflower and Lepidium to European and Middle East markets.

Accompanied by the EHPEA Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair Person and the EHPEA Executive Director among others, H.E. the State Minister visited farm fields and different facilities, including modern propagation and fertilizer houses among others.

The State Minister applauded the dedicated expansion investment of the Farm, its community support, and operation that helps knowledge and technology transfer.

She also called on and encouraged the Company for further strengthened initiatives to empower the local community, particularly to strategically support smallholder farmers in the neighborhoods.

As part of its corporate social responsibility engagement, the Farm consistently provides the necessary supports to 50 students, from KG to University level, and a local clinic among other social and environmental interventions.