EHPEA | ministry of agriculture ethiopia Archives

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭

Posted on July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 by technobros_admin

As the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) is dedicatedly engaged in spearheading and supporting strategic initiatives and impactful interventions to promote the nation’s horticulture sustainably, key stakeholders are committedly reinforcing the course with committed support and collaboration.

While commercial farms are operating with increasing investments on modern and sustainable horticultural production, some for diversified high-value crops, the Government and development partners are accompanying them by strategic supportive tools, with EHPEA playing a central role in facilitating essential venues where energies from the wide array of actors are converged to drive growth of resilient and productive horticulture industry.

The practical gestures and tangible commitment witnessed these days with the subsector key stakeholders are vivid demonstrations of each actor’s meaningful engagement meant to awaken the horticultural sleeping-giant, the second largest floriculture hub in Africa.

While Ethiopia is among the five top flower producing and exporting countries globally, strenuous efforts are well underway through collaboration and committed engagement of key stakeholders: the public sector, private investors, the Association, and development partners, leveling the venue to unleash the country’s immense, yet untapped, horticultural potential.

Speaking at Horticulture Subsector Stakeholders Consultative Meeting in Arba Minch, South Ethiopia Regional State few days backs, H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa, State Minister of Agriculture, underlined the need to further strengthen the joint efforts of stakeholders with commitment of each key actor to realize mutual gains from the industry’s growth.

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 & 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has been successful in its endeavors of advocating for strategic policy as well as in promoting sustainable and global market-compliant horticultural operation in Ethiopia.
EHPEA’s dedicated engagement with relevant actors in courses to ensure conducive business environment and enhance the industry’s global competitiveness has earned victories in critical issues related to land, customs, tax, logistics, capacity building and global market compliance among others. This has also enabled the country’s horticulture to flourish with growing private investments in sustainable agricultural operation, thereby increasing employment opportunities and hard currency earnings.

Having successfully organized ten editions of the HortiFlora Expo, an annual premier international horticulture and floriculture trade fair in Africa, EHPEA has been able to strategically promote Ethiopia’s rapidly growing horticulture industry and enhance the country’s global position in the subsector.

Through its specialized TVET Center, EHPEA has been driving industry capacity, by training commercial farm workers and others with practical skills in Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), compliance and postharvest handling among others.

The Association has been implementing various partnership initiatives to promote the country’s horticulture with sustainability, also with its three-level Code of Practice Certification guiding its member farms through social and environmental-conscious operations incorporating strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions that foster long-term economic resilience and social progress of local communities.

𝐏𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲: 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬

The Ministry of Agriculture has, in recent times, taken strategic measures and launched key initiatives to transform the horticulture industry, especially to replicate the country’s success of floriculture in fruits and vegetables, thereby boosting decent employments and industry export earnings from currently hundreds of millions to billions of dollars in few years period.

To this end, the Ministry launched the 10-Year National Horticulture Strategy in 2024 and the 15-Year Avocado Development Program in 2025, and various measures are being taken at different levels towards their successful implementation.

In addition to ensuring effective implementation of industry incentives and benefit packages, the Ministry has been convening, with the attendance of the Minister of Agriculture H.E. Ato Addisu Arega, and the State Minister H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa among others, painstaking stakeholders’ consultative meetings and field visits to horticulture farms at different times, which have indeed been serving as crucial platforms to identify and address critical issues of the industry.

The Ministry has also committedly supported the effect of the long-standing quest of horticultural farms demanding land for expansion, whereby over 30,000 hectares of land has now been designated for horticulture development in different regions across the country.

𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

With the Ministry’s committed support and attentive direction, Regional Governments and highly relevant public offices at different levels have been taking their respective strategic measures to address important issues, thereby meaningfully supporting the country’s second largest hard currency earner within the agriculture sector after coffee.

The recent measures taken in making land availability for both expansion and new projects in some regions, addressing issues related to customs, title deeds and land registration as well as incoterms and crucial incentives among others are vital to drive the industry’s growth and its competitiveness globally.
Regions, including Oromia, Central Ethiopia, and South Ethiopia Regions have recently decided and made thousands of hectares of land available for both expansion and new projects of horticulture development, while relevant public offices at the federal, regional, zonal and local levels have taken key measures that significantly support the industry growth.

With consistent and active participation in the stakeholders consultative meetings, relevant public offices of investment, revenue, customs, development infrastructure, power and water utilities, telecom and other services have also been working closely with the Ministry and EHPEA to address issues that are critical to the success of the country’s horticulture subsector.
All these committed engagements are, of course, facilitating conducive investment environment and ensuring ease of business doing within the industry, and thereby greatly contributing to the subsector’s promotion and Ethiopia’s competitiveness globally.

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬

Recent events portray that commercial farms in the country are increasingly investing in diversification of high-value crops, improved technology and solutions as well as modern agricultural facilities and operation aiming at boosting sustainable production with increased earnings and decent employment opportunities.
Many farms are being observed investing in operations compliant to standards and requirements of global markets, whereby a number of EHPEA member farms are increasingly certified with EHPEA’s highest level compliance, Gold-Level Certification that demonstrates their unwavering commitment to international standards, environmental stewardship and profound social responsibility.

The recently inaugurated mass rearing facility for biological pest control agents by Red Fox Ethiopia Plc (Dummen Orange) in Koka, Oromia Regional State, is a milestone in Ethiopia’s horticulture, and along with other related measures in adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system by other growers, the move demonstrates that commercial farms are committedly mobilizing huge investments to run responsible and sustainable horticultural production in the country.

The dedicated expansion from just 3 hectares to 120 hectares of fields, relatively within short period of time, for sustainable production of varied summer flowers by Klaver Flowers as well as investments being witnessed currently with Luna and Lucy Farms among others in modern agricultural facilities and operation for diversified high-value horticultural crops in South Ethiopia Region are also examples of committed engagement of commercial farms in the country’s subsector development.

While creating social and economic opportunities for local people, many other EHPEA member farms at different clusters are being observed in investing and running responsible operation by facilitating conducive working environments, empowering local communities and supporting smallholder farmers and livelihoods through various strategic CSR interventions.

Lucy Farm to launch newly constructed propagation facility for varied types of vegetables

Posted on July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 by technobros_admin

Lucy Farm says it has finalized preparation to launch operation of a newly constructed propagation facility for varied types of vegetables at its site in Arba Minch, South Ethiopia Regional State

The Ministry of Agriculture, the South Ethiopia Region Investment Commission, and the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) on July 10, 2026, jointly organized a stakeholders’ consultative meeting in Arba Minch town deliberating on ways of boosting horticultural investment in the Region.

Having wrapped up the consultative meeting held with the attendance of State Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa, participants of the consultative meeting paid a visit to Lucy Farms in Arba Minch.

Warmly welcoming the guests with impressive hospitality, the Farm facilitated for the visitors to participate in transplanting of different horticultural seedlings at a purpose-designated site.

Lucy Farm is one of EHPEA’s members, along with Fri-El Ethiopia and Luna Farms among others, operating in the South Ethiopia Region with modern agricultural practices for growing variety of fruits for both local and export markets.

Lucy Farm produces and supplies to both local and foreign markets variety of horticultural crops, including banana, avocado, apple mango, papaya and watermelon as well as different types of vegetables.

In addition to farming fields of banana and apple mangos, the participants visited a newly constructed propagation facility of the Farm, where Lucy plans to propagate and distribute variety of demand-driven seedlings to local growers.

Driving Horticultural Investments: Stakeholders Dialogue on Unlocking Massive Potential in South Ethiopia Region

Posted on July 11, 2026July 11, 2026 by technobros_admin

The Ministry of Agriculture, the South Ethiopia Region Investment Commission, and the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) today jointly organized a stakeholders’ consultative meeting in Arba Minch town deliberating on ways of boosting horticultural investment in the Region through attracting new investors and expanding existing operations.

The consultative meeting was convened with the attendance of State Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa, South Ethiopia Investment Commissioner Atsede Ayiza, Wolaita Sodo Mayor Etagegn Hailemariam, officials and representatives of relevant offices from different levels as well as EHPEA Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair Persons, EHPEA Executive Director and EHPEA member farms operating in the Region.

Hailing the crucial role the horticulture is playing in generating foreign currencies, creating employment opportunities and transferring knowledge and technology among others, H.E. the State Minister called on new and existing investors in the country to exploit the investment opportunities and the vast horticultural potential in the South Ethiopia Region.

She has also applauded private farm investments in the Region and called on more engagement that would also further strengthen positive impacts on smallholder farmers and the livelihood of local communities.

EHPEA members, including Fri-El Ethiopia, Luna and Lucy Farms among others are operating in the Region with modern agricultural practices for growing variety of horticultural crops for both local and export markets.

Reiterating the Ministry’s continued commitment to supporting the sub-sector, H.E. the State Minister emphasized on the need to drive committed collaborations of all stakeholders to unleash the huge horticultural potential in the country and address challenges facing the industry through joint efforts.

Stating that the Region is highly suitable for fruits and vegetables development, the South Ethiopia Region Investment Commissioner Atsede Ayiza noted that strategic measures have been taken to facilitate conducive investment environment for both new and existing investors who are keen to operate in the Region.

In his presentation on recent events and key areas related to the industry, the EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie said that notable achievements have been gained in addressing issues that are critical to promote the country’s second largest hard currency earner in the agriculture sector after coffee.

The Executive Director has appreciated the decisions and measures taken primarily by the Ministry of Agriculture, other relevant Offices and Regional Governments in dealing with those critical issues related to making lands available for expansion and new projects, incoterms, title deeds and land registry, customs and duty free matters among others.

The meeting also raised other important issues on which the stakeholders deliberated at length, with emphasis on the need to work closely and employ collaborative efforts to jointly promote the industry for enhanced mutual gains.

The Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) recognises the EHPEA

Posted on July 8, 2026July 8, 2026 by technobros_admin

The EHPEA Silver Standard has successfully completed the benchmarking process for the primary production scope under the SSCI’s Social Criteria, which was set up to ensure that the relevant social sustainability topics are being covered.

During the SSCI benchmarking process, EHPEA carried out several actions to align its Silver Standard with the SSCI benchmark, including improvements to:

● Governance and oversight procedures;
● Complaints and appeals handling processes;
● Audit oversight and record management;
● Risk and liability management;
● Labour and occupational health and safety requirements.

Mr. Tewodros Zewdie, Executive Director of EHPEA, said, “We are proud that the EHPEA Code of Practice for Sustainable Flower Production has received official recognition from the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative. This achievement reflects our strong commitment to sustainability, ethical business practices, and continuous improvement across Ethiopia’s floriculture sector. It is a testament to the dedication of our member farms and reinforces our position as a trusted supplier in global markets.”

The SSCI benchmarks social and environmental sustainability schemes against a robust global baseline giving consumer goods companies the clarity needed to optimise their sourcing decisions and confidently meet industry and regulatory expectations.

This conditional recognition means that companies can source from EHPEA-certified farms with the understanding that the standard meets the strict requirements of the SSCI Social Criteria.

Didier Bergeret, Director of Sustainability at the CGF said, “By welcoming the EHPEA into our community of recognised schemes, we’re helping consumer goods companies source horticultural products more responsibly from Ethiopia.”

Consultative Dialogue on Workforce Nutrition Education: Cultivating Well-being, Driving Productivity

Posted on July 7, 2026July 8, 2026 by technobros_admin

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) today convened a half-day consultative Meeting on Workforce Nutrition Education Program at Mado Hotel in Addis Ababa, with participation of representatives from relevant public institutions, EHPEA member farms, garment industry, and Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC).

EHPEA and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have forged partnership through sub-grant the Workforce Nutrition Education Initiative being implemented under the Workforce Nutrition Project meant to advance workplace nutrition within horticulture and garment industries.

In spearheading and supporting strategic initiatives and interventions to ensure safe and conducive workplaces across its member farms, EHPEA dedicatedly promotes on-site meals and nutritional programs, whereby tangible results have been gained with many farms operating now with standard canteens and dietary awareness.

The Workforce Nutrition Education Initiative aims to strengthen institutional commitment to workforce nutrition by raising awareness, integrating nutrition into workplace policies and systems, and supporting employers’ commitment to improving workers’ health and well-being that significantly impacts business productivity and profitability.

The consultative meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to review the program approach, share experiences, and strengthen collaboration for the successful implementation of workforce nutrition interventions across the two industries.

It featured two presentations: the scope of nutrition education pillars of the Project and the highlight of Nutrition Education strategy for the horticulture industry by EHPEA, and National Nutrition Strategies and Recommendations by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Group exercise was also conducted on assessing challenges and opportunities in the horticulture and garment industries that facilitate the nutrition education.

Empowering Women, Youth through Impactful Training

Posted on June 25, 2026June 25, 2026 by technobros_admin

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has conducted a gender-sensitive and inclusive training on the premises of Furra Institute of Development Studies and Education in Yirgalem, Sidama Region.

Designed to address both productive and personal dimensions of participants’ lives through holistic support, the latest training brought together representatives of horticulture producers, cooperative and union as well as regional and zonal gender committee members.

With prime focus on promoting equity, empowerment, and sustainable agricultural development, the training covered topics including, gender mainstreaming and gender-sensitive approaches in agricultural value chains, women’s and youth leadership development, horticulture and agribusiness ideas tailored specifically for women entrepreneurs.

Going well beyond farming and related technical skills, it also dwelt upon health related issues, particularly cervical cancer awareness, prevention, and management strategies.

The training is part of EHPEA’s implementation, in partnership with GIZ, of the Strengthening Rural Value Chains Phase II (SRVC II) project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The project aims to improve the market readiness, compliance, and operational performance of horticulture producers and cooperatives while fostering inclusive, climate-smart, and sustainable growth for all actors across the value chains.

While promoting sustainable and inclusive horticulture in the country, EHPEA remains committed to delivering tailored agribusiness mentorship, financial literacy, and leadership modules among others to women-led cooperatives and youth groups.

Blossoming Ambition: Farm Reinforcing the Campaign to Awaken the Sleeping-Giant

Posted on June 20, 2026June 20, 2026 by technobros_admin

Ethiopia is often referred to as the sleeping-giant as long as horticulture industry is concerned though the country is ranked secondly in Africa’s floriculture while categorized among the top five flower exporting nations globally.

With ideal agro-ecological diversity, abundant water and irrigable land resources as well as competitive operational advantages, the East African country is yet to unleash its horticultural potential to enhance food system and boost export revenues to billions from over half a billion now.

As the country has launched and been implementing the 10-year national horticulture strategy and the 15-year avocado development program, with the Government’s several incentives, commercial farms are mobilizing huge investment resources to leverage the potential, thereby contributing to the success of the ambitious multibillion-dollar frameworks.

The recently inaugurated state-of-the-art beneficial insect mass-rearing facility by Red Fox Ethiopia Plc. (Dummen Orange) in Koka, the first in Ethiopia, is among the tangible demonstrations of the private sector’s dedicated engagement in the country’s horticulture through sustainable agricultural practices.

With ongoing investments in critical infrastructure and facilities, Luna Farm in Deramalo District, Gamo Zone of the South Ethiopia Region, is boosting its operation in producing different types of horticultural crops.

Operating with drip and pivot irrigation systems and refrigerated trucks, the Farm produces different types of fruits and vegetables, including, mango, banana, orange, avocado, watermelon, tomato, onion, beetroot as well as varieties of capscum, lettuce and cabbage among other types of horticultural crops.

Creating job opportunities for 600 people, the Farm provides them with subsidized meals and medical services among other benefits while continuously building their capacity through training and coaching.

During a recent joint mission to fruits and vegetable farms in southern parts of Ethiopia, team members from the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association – EHPEA and GIZ paid visit to Luna Farm, where a discussion was also held with its Management on horticultural practices, markets and value chains and challenges among others.

The Management at Luna said they would boost their operation also with foreign markets once the state-of-the-art pack-house and cold-room facilities go fully functional within few weeks.

The EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie commends the Farm for its committed engagement in the subsector, contributing share to enhance Ethiopia’s vegetable export.

The Executive Director hails the role Luna plays in addressing the aspirations for nutritious, healthy, affordable and accessible fruits and vegetables. “The farm has the potential to transform the supply chain and quality production of fruits and vegetables in the surrounding areas as it has propagation facility, infrastructures, technology know-how and market,” says Tewodros.

EHPEA, GIZ Partnership: Joint Field Mission for Strategic Interventions to Promote Sustainable, Resilient Horticulture

Posted on June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 by technobros_admin

A three-day joint field visit with team members from the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) and GIZ has been undertaken to fruits and vegetable farms in southern parts of Ethiopia to have first-hand information while exploring ways and identifying areas for strategic interventions and impactful support to promote sustainable and resilient horticulture in the country.

The mission was undertaken from 15-17 June with the focus on learning their existing horticultural practices, measures of sustainability and resilience, markets and value chains while identifying bottlenecks that require strategic interventions and support of EHPEA to realize the required development of horticulture with scalability, in the country in general and to smallholder farmers in particular.

Facilitated by the Association with team members including among others, the EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie as well as Jean-Bernard Lalanne and Sebsebe Zewde from GIZ-SRVC II (strengthening rural value chain) project, the field visit mission featured discussions with the management teams of the respective farms, primarily on the services and required interventions of EHPEA through which GIZ support is channeled.

In the first leg of the three-day field visit, the group on Monday landed in Lucy and Fri-El Farms in the Omorate cluster, where Lucy, also with a farm in Arba Minch, is engaged in the production of different types of horticultural crops while Fri-El Ethiopia primarily and massively produces high-quality bananas for local and foreign markets.

On the second day on Tuesday, the team paid a visit to Luna Farm in Deramalo Woreda, where the Farm grows variety of vegetables with final stage of the construction of a standard packing house and cold-room facility, to be functional shortly.

The mission was wrapped up Wednesday with a visit to Lucy Farm in Arba Minch, where the Company grows variety of fruits and vegetables, also with a new propagation greenhouses to be fully operational within two months.

The joint visit is an important venue for EHPEA and GIZ to identify areas of interventions that would allow them to further strengthen partnership to support horticultural farms and cooperatives towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient horticulture in Ethiopia, while promoting the country’s global competitiveness.

Recognizing EHPEA’s dedicated support to members, commitment to nation’s sustainable horticulture

Posted on June 10, 2026June 10, 2026 by technobros_admin

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) has been awarded a Certificate by one of its members in recognition primarily of its dedicated catalytic role in advancing sustainable horticulture in the country.

As EHPEA remains committed to supporting its members and promoting the industry‘s sustainability through various strategic interventions, Red Fox Ethiopia Plc (Dümmen Orange) has recognized the Association for its pivotal role in promoting, implementing and driving the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices across farms, while providing invaluable technical support and capacity-building training.

Red Fox Ethiopia Plc presented the Certificate to EHPEA during a ceremony the Company organize in Koka yesterday to inaugurate its dedicated, the first in Ethiopia, mass rearing facility of beneficial insects in Koka, East Shoa Zone of Oromia Regional State.

The Company has deeply appreciated EHPEA’s exceptional technical support and impactful training programs that continue to empower horticultural community in the country.

The EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie says the Association has, over the last ten years, been working with its partners spearheading several mapping and research studies on pests, the major threat to the horticulture industry.

Tangible and encouraging results have been gained due to the course undertaken to promote improved pest control system and ensure industry sustainability, says Tewodros.

Through the Association’s specialized TVET, more than 32,500 industry workers have been trained in mapping, mass rearing and packaging beneficial insects, and over 95% of flower farms are now implementing IPM model, says the Executive Director.

Emphasizing on the need to expand the initiative at other farms, Tewodros hails the pioneering facility of Red Fox Ethiopia as it will have multifaceted contributions to the country’s horticulture, notably in reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and curbing residues on export cuttings, and thereby enhancing Ethiopia’s competitiveness in the global markets.

Milestone in Ethiopia’s Horticulture: Red Fox Ethiopia Plc (Dümmen Orange) inaugurates pioneering production facility for biological pest control agents

Posted on June 9, 2026June 9, 2026 by technobros_admin

Red Fox Ethiopia Plc, operating under the global floriculture brand Dümmen Orange, today officially inaugurated Ethiopia’s first dedicated mass rearing facility of beneficial insects in Koka Negewo.

Rather than applying chemical pesticides, the facility enables Red Fox Ethiopia Plc to breed and use the natural pest control agents directly inside its greenhouses, an approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or biocontrol system.

The facility marks a decisive structural shift away from conventional chemical pest interventions, drastically reducing chemical footprints, safeguarding local ecosystems, enhancing workplace health and safety, and advancing climate-resilient agriculture.

Lowering the risk of pesticide residue on export flowers, it also highly supports the compliance with international market standards, particularly lucrative and stricter global markets.

Reiterating that the greatest challenge in the floriculture are pests that damage quality of cuttings, thereby threatening export and creating pressure to apply more chemical pesticides, Yordanos Jemal, General Manager of Red Fox Ethiopia Plc (Dummen Orange), highlights the great significance of the facility in curbing the problems while promoting smart and sustainable agriculture.

The facility makes the Company become the first Farm in Ethiopia to produce its own biological pest control agents.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, H.E. Dr. Sofia Kassa, the Ethiopian State Minister of Agriculture, commended the facility for its role in substituting imported products.

Stating that the initiative by Red Fox Ethiopia Plc (Dummen Orange) is highly encouraging and exemplary achievement, the State Minister has also called on others to follow same suit to realize such initiatives that would boost exports while reducing imports.

Speaking on his part, H.E. Ambassador Diriba Kuma, the Director General of the Ethiopian Agriculture Authority (EAA), hailed the facility a game-changing project that would have significant role in the transformation of Ethiopia’s horticulture industry.

Noting that Ethiopia’s horticulture is a national success story in generating hard currencies and creating job opportunities, the Director General said the facility would also contribute to Ethiopia’s national goals for sustainable, climate-smart and resilient growth.

Reiterating that the horticulture industry is demonstrating continuous growth with dedicated engagement of members and strategic interventions of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association – EHPEA, Nega Mequanint, the EHPEA Board Chair, said the facility was launched at a time when the Association is undertaking various sustainable initiatives.

In her remarks on the occasion, H.E. Ambassador Christine Pirenne, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, congratulated the Company for achieving the milestone in Ethiopia’s horticulture by realizing the first facility in its kind for responsible and sustainable horticulture in the country.

Established in 2003 in the Oromia Region, Red Fox Ethiopia PLC has grown to become the largest farm within the global Dümmen Orange network. Spanning 100 hectares of land which includes 40 hectares of state-of-the-art, high-tech greenhouses the farm specializes in the high-quality cultivation of Pelargonia, Poinsettia, Calla Lily, and Rose Rootstock. With 2,500 employees at peak season, it drives significant economic impact, exporting over 120 million cuttings, stems, and tubers annually, and generating a vital foreign currency inflow for the Ethiopian economy.

Tag: ministry of agriculture ethiopia

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