The Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Addisu Arega, has reiterated Government’s committed support to the horticulture industry to unleash the country’s untapped potential and ensure enhanced socioeconomic gains in hard currency, job creation, and modernized agriculture among other significant social benefits.
A high-level quarterly consultative meeting was convened today on the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture with attendance of the Minister H.E. Ato Addisu Arega and the State Minister H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa as well as officials of regional states, representatives of relevant public offices and stakeholder entities, Board Members and the Executive Director of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA).
The meeting has served as a follow-up to previous discussions on the horticulture subsector with particular focus on issues that come across the industry and to evaluate the progress afterwards.
It featured presentations on Ethiopia’s horticulture export performance and the way forward by H.E. Dr. Sofia as well as on the positive reforms and areas that require due attention to bring about breakthrough in the country’s horticulture subsector by the EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie.
On the occasion, representatives of participating horticulture producers and exporters raised for discussion on issues related to land for expansion, finance, lease period, infrastructure, and logistics among others.
Reiterating horticulture’s indispensable role in generating significant amount of foreign exchange and job opportunities among others, H.E. Ato Addisu said his Ministry would beef up efforts in synergy with relevant stakeholders to supporting the industry by ensuring provision of investment land, the access to finance, improving infrastructure, logistics and efficient services.
Stating that his Ministry stays more committed ever to successful development of the industry through engagement with EHPEA, investors, key stakeholders and pertinent public offices, the Minister has also called on actors in the private sector to effectively utilize existing opportunities and develop the acquired investment lands through socially and environmentally responsible agricultural practices.
Appreciating the ongoing corporate social responsibility interventions of growers in the areas of potable water, education and health, the Minister emphasized on the need to enhance such development projects and social support aimed at improving local livelihoods, and thereby nurturing the sense of ownership and guaranteeing support of varied types from the local communities.
He also called on developers to consider the alternatives provided for land acquisition and also the investment opportunities in services of cold chain logistics, which play pivotal role in horticulture export. The Minister underlined on the need for the private sector to actively engage and join hands with the Government to effectively address issues that come across the smooth operation of the industry towards mutual gains.
He has reaffirmed Government’s continued support to the horticulture subsector to boost its export revenue from hundreds of millions currently to billions of U.S. dollars by unleashing its potential in the country.
In her presentation, the State Minister H.E. Dr. Sofia dwelt upon measures taken in the areas, including land for investment expansion, power supply in some sites, preventing contraband of fruits and vegetables, international market expansion including resuming South Korean flower markets affected due to issues related to phytosanitry, and also incentive for cold chain transport services.
The State Minister indicated that various measures are undertaken to increase the export revenues of horticulture.
The EHPEA Executive Director Ato Tewodros Zewdie stated that the reforms and policy measures undertaken across a number sectors have positive impacts on the country’s second top hard currency earner and the most resilient industry.
To bring about breakthrough in the horticulture subsector through positive reforms and key measures to ensure expedited implementation of the recently launched national horticulture strategy, the Executive Director called for due attention to issues related to land acquisition for expansion, Horti-Park, duty free, institutional coordination, and smart agro-logistics.
He also underlined on the need to look into issues in the areas of financial provision including the access to forex, customs validation, security to some clusters, clarity on taxation, and energy to address electric power and fuel supply in some clusters.
Ato Tewodros has pointed out the need to promote synergy among private sector, academic & research centers and civil society organizations as well as regional and federal governments.
Participants have also raised the issues of consolidation and also coordinated efforts of different institutions for which efforts should be made to ensure understanding on the industry across the different sectors.
Reflecting on the points raised by horticulture producers and exporters, officials of regional states and representatives of relevant sectors stated the measures already taken and ongoing undertakings of their respective offices to support the horticulture industry.
