Ethiopia’s Horticulture Sector Set for Growth with COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator Launch
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The COMESA-EAC Horticulture Accelerator (CEHA) National Chapter has been launched in Addis Ababa, marking a significant milestone in the growth of Ethiopia’s horticulture sector. The initiative, launched on August 13, 2024, aims to boost sustainable growth in the horticulture sector within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC).
The CEHA program, driven by the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA-COMESA), will focus on three key crops – potatoes, avocados, and onions – chosen for their potential to drive economic growth. According to Ethiopia’s State Minister of Agriculture and Horticulture Development, Meles Mekonnen, these crops were selected based on their production capacity and potential to drive economic growth.
The CEHA Ethiopia National Chapter is expected to bring together key stakeholders and support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within these value chains through matching grants and technical assistance. This initiative is anticipated to create jobs, boost regional trade, and reduce postharvest losses.
According to ACTESA-COMESA Chief Executive Officer John Mukuka, the three crops could generate an additional $230 million annually for approximately 450,000 smallholder farmers in the region. In 2023, avocados and onions contributed $11.2 million in foreign exchange earnings for the region.
The CEHA Ethiopia National Chapter will focus on activities such as advocating for policy reforms to enhance trade facilitation and market access, providing financial resources, and delivering training and capacity-building programmes for value chain actors. Development partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), attended the launch and expressed their support.
The launch of the CEHA National Chapter in Ethiopia marks the fourth country to join the initiative, following Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Established in 2022, CEHA is a collaborative effort to accelerate growth in the fruit and vegetable sector.
The potential of the horticulture sector for job creation, economic development, and foreign exchange earnings was highlighted by BMGF Senior Programmes Officer Rafael Flor, who noted that the focus on these three crops would help diversify Ethiopia’s agricultural output beyond traditional grains. FDCO Country Representative Nina Hissen reaffirmed the British government’s commitment to partnerships for growth and poverty reduction, citing CEHA as a strong example. AGRA Country Director Yihenew Zewdie called for policy harmonisation to facilitate cross-border trade within the horticulture sector and stressed the importance of ensuring the availability of seeds in sustainable quantities, expressing confidence that the CEHA initiative would drive innovation.
