ADDIS ABABA (EHPEA) – The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) on 28th January 2021 convened a launching event for its accredited technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institute, which is believed to augment the efforts being made by the Association to enhance the international competitiveness of the country’s horticulture industry, through capacity building and promotion of sustainable and responsible operation of the sector.
The Institute caters its services for local and international institutions working on agriculture, specifically targeting on unemployed youth, officials of agri-business establishments of the public and private sector, extension workers, unions and cooperatives, TVET instructors, farm managers, agronomists, storekeepers, compliance managers, supervisors, farm scouts, and extension workers among others.
EHPEA also introduced its Code of Practice in 2007 as a voluntary initiative to guide, monitor, and communicate the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) as well as Social and Environmental considerations by farms exporting flowers and cuttings worldwide. The Code has a total of three levels, including, Bronze, Silver (which is benchmarked with the international standard Global G.A.P), and Gold level which demands the farm to actively engage in Quality Management and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
EHPEA has, so far, delivered training to nearly 50,000 farm workers. The Association awarded the Kingdom of Netherlands for its continuous support and unreserved cooperation for more than a decade to achieve this success.
At the launching event the State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Ato Wondale Habtamu and other government officials, farm members as well as pertinent stakeholders were in attendance.
About the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association
The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) is a business membership organization which is established in 2002. It is a not-for-profit organization meant to promote the interest of its members which are engaged in the production and export of flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and cuttings. Currently, EHPEA registered members have reached 119, and it is contributing to the horticulture industry boom in Ethiopia and also effectively representing the interests of its members operating locally and globally. For more information, visit EPHEA’s website.
Source: EHPEA