Flower farms in Batu hosted Hawassa university students for an educational farm visit program on May 20, 2023, with an initiative of Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), as part of its Ethiopian horticulture awareness creation activity.
The group comprise students who are studying horticulture & plant science. The program was a great platform, which created practical exposure for the students on post-harvesting, crop protection, liquid and dry waste management for sustainable year-round horticulture production techniques.
EHPEA represents its member farms at the 40th edition of Macfrut 2023 expo, which is being held in Rimini Italy from May 03 to 05, 2023.
The trade fair dedicated to the entire fruit and vegetable supply chain, combining specialized events and dynamic areas dedicated to innovation with a business exhibition.
H.E Desta Lendamo, Sidama National Regional President and his cabinet members paid a visit to Klaver flowers Plc located in Hawassa.
On the visit he conveyed that the region is ready to collaborate with the farms for a greater impact and also emphasized to keep up this great achievement carried out by the farm.
As part of investment promotion, EHPEA organized this farm visit with an objective to enhance horticulture investment opportunities in the region.
Klaver flowers was established in 2013 G.C exporting summer flowers to its main destination Holland and other Middle East countries. The company brings 4milllion Euro earnings yearly and created over 1200 job opportunities to the country.
The company representative reflected the owners interest to expand their business in the region with which will double the current achievements.
H.E W/r. Fantaye Kebede, speaker of the regional council, members of the regional council and pertinent government officials took part on the visit program.
A leadership program that aims to create empowered women leaders and decision makers in the horticulture farms for second round training held in Bishoftu and Holeta cluster.
The training delivered for more than 50 women comprised from 12 farms from Holeta, Sebeta, Koka and Bishoftu cluster farms on “Communication and supervision skill” which was designed to be highly interactive and to teach supervisors at lower and middle level about their roles and responsibilities, professional behavior at work, communicating effectively, team building, and resolving disputes at the workplace for improving leadership performance.
The program will be implemented for the coming three years including mentorship at the selected horticulture farms by the lead of EHPEA.
A validation workshop on the national protocol of False Codling Moth (FCM) Management held today at Addis Ababa Hilton in the presence of responsible government offices and flower farms representatives.
The protocol jointly prepared by Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA), Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) and relevant partners after studying the best practices of other countries in a way to adopt to Ethiopian context.
The protocol provides a guidance to the producers exporters of cut flowers of roses for their development of FCM management strategy with in their farm.
On the workshop the practicality of the protocol discussed at length which will be incorporated in the final national protocol.
Ato Wondale Habtamu, Director General and Deputy Director General of EAA, stated on his closing remarks that all producers needs to give due attention to integrate their day to day activities along with the needful practices stated on the protocol so as to sustain in the European market. He also added that the protocol will be implemented in the country soon and the readiness of the Authority to serve the private sector to comply with the expected standards of EU.
In his opening speech of 8th Edition of HortiFlora expo yesterday, MoA Minister Girma Amente (PhD) said that: “It is not a matter of choice for us rather a question of necessity to contribute for boom in the fruit and vegetable export growth of the country for a number of factors.” Ethiopia has not benefitted in a meaningful manner from the opportunities for export in the fruit and vegetable sub-sector, he added. The minister, therefore, said that it is also possible to unlock the ample opportunities in the fruit and vegetable segment of the industry.
“ Ethiopia can benefit a lot from the lifestyle changes in the world’s main dish which is shifting more to fruit and vegetables, and the population growth everywhere on the globe is another opportunity.’’ As to him, Ethiopia needs to have a turn around as a country to meaningfully benefit from the fruit and vegetable segment of the industry just by considering the concurrent food technologies.
It was learnt that the sector will help ensure food sovereignty and improve the livelihood of fellow citizens via creating millions of jobs for the youngsters, and also substantially increasing the hard currency gains and the like. All stakeholders of the sector particularly investors, Ministry of Agriculture and government of Ethiopia will continue to work relentlessly to address the policy and administrative related challenges and will create a better doing business climate by working closely with the private sector, he stressed.
“We take our hats off for the voracious appetite and choice to further source flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs from Ethiopia. Indeed, we also comprehend that the visit should help exhibitors to assess for themselves the commercially attractive opportunities that Ethiopia offers to buyers and investors” Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association representative also called investors to invest in the fruit and vegetable sector and to play their role in the sector.
The 8th HortiFlora expo is opened to visitors for three days starting yesterday and it is being conducted under the theme: “Ensuring Sustainability”. The 8th HortiFlora expo is hosted by Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association.
The expo helps to share experience with other investors, introduce their products for their customers, and create market linkage, said exhibitors of the expo. And around 90 domestic and foreign companies are taking part in the expo. It is to be recalled that during the last 7 months, Ethiopia has earned over 400 million USD from the horticulture exports.
After a four-year hiatus, the eighth edition of HortiFlora Expo was held for three days beginning March 8.
The Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amente, commented on the start of one of the largest horticultural expos on the continent by saying that issues made by horticulture investors will be resolved because the industry is very beneficial to the nation.
The majority of the worries raised by developers are related to foreign exchange, infrastructure, and land issues like expansion, the Minister told the media after his visit.
After coffee, the industry ranks among the top sources of hard money.
The sector generated USD 414 million from exports in the first seven months of the 2022–23 budget year, according to Girma, “which is a very large achievement.”
The fruit and vegetable subsector is now expanding, and it has received significant attention in our next agriculture and rural development policy, which is anticipated to be approved before the end of the fiscal year, he continued.
Read More https://www.capitalethiopia.com/…/government-pledges…/
ADDIS ABABA- In its endeavor to make Ethiopia attractive to horticulture and floriculture investment globally, the government has made various policy amendments and offered attractive incentives, the Ministry of Agriculture said.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald at the sidelines of the eighth edition of Hortiflora Expo, Agriculture Minister Girma Amenete (PhD) stressed the government’s readiness to attract potential businesses in the horticulture sector.
Taking into account the role of horticulture and floriculture growers in export and the labor-intensive nature of the businesses, the government has given due emphasis to lure anchor companies. “Increasing Ethiopia’s foreign currency earnings from horticulture and floriculture exports is a matter of choice, but the question of survival for Ethiopia.”
As to him, Ethiopia’s conducive climate condition and the good policies of the government are the factors for the success registered in the export of fruit and vegetable to the international market. Yet, it is insignificant when compared with Ethiopia’s potential and as well as the desire the global market has shown for Ethiopia’s products.
Girma indicated that public-private partnership is much needed to attract more direct investment in the horticulture and floriculture sectors and stimulate economic growth. He called on the private sector to avail quality products with reasonable prices in a bid to enhance Ethiopia’s competitiveness in the global market.
All stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and other government agencies Ethiopia will work relentlessly to address the policy and administrative related challenges investors have faced during the operation phase. “We will create closer partnership with the private sector to ensure Ethiopia’s benefits from the horticulture and floriculture sectors.”
The minister further highlighted that the lifestyle changes in the global community and the shift towards fruit and vegetables is another good opportunity that the country should capture. “We need to make maximum efforts to capitalize on this opportunity and equip the production with modern technologies.”
The increased product and productivity of the horticulture and floriculture sub-sectors is of great significance to ensure food security and improve the livelihood of citizens. The area also has immense potential to create jobs for the youth and supplement Ethiopia’s forex reserves.
According to the Board Chair of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association (EHPA), an organizer of the expo, Nega Mequanint, the show is quite important to lure more investment to Ethiopia and also for concluding business deals.
Nearly 100 local exhibitors and buyers and input suppliers from 35 countries took part in the expo that was hosted by the EHPA. Ethiopia secured over 400 million USD from the horticulture sub- sector in the past 10 months of the current fiscal year.
The Ethiopian Herald March 12/ 2023 BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
