Technology advances for Ethiopian soft fruit production
Recent field days, hosted by Zuqualla Horti PLC in partnership with Flavo Plants, Resilience, and Meteor Systems, highlighted a state-of-the-art production system designed to improve both productivity and sustainability.
The demonstration featured various innovations, including new strawberry varieties from Flavo Plants and advanced Mini-Air gutter tunnel systems from Meteor Systems. These technologies promise significant benefits for Ethiopian farmers, such as improved labor conditions, reduced pesticide and fertilizer usage, better crop growth management, and enhanced export potential.
Thijs Rensink, business consultant and the deputy general manager of the Resilience office in Ethiopia, noted that “Ethiopia possesses favorable conditions for growing soft fruits. We conducted a study commissioned by the Dutch embassy to see which fields in the propagation sector in Ethiopia could benefit from Dutch technologies. The soft fruit sector is booming worldwide, and Ethiopia has all the favorable conditions to grow soft fruit like strawberries.”
Wout van Koppen, general manager of Zuqualla Horti, emphasized the importance of collaboration. He remarked, “That’s the aim of sharing the knowledge and inviting everybody to come here and to see it with their own eyes and to ask questions to the suppliers.” This collaborative effort is supported by the Dutch government and aims to inform investors about the soft fruit sector’s potential in Ethiopia.
Meeuwes Brouwer, the agricultural counselor at the Dutch embassy, highlighted the project’s significance in promoting sustainable and efficient agriculture. He explained that a cluster of companies is interested in promoting the production and export of strawberries in Ethiopia, facilitated by Dutch government subsidies.
The demonstration day served not only as a showcase for the practical application of these technologies but also as a catalyst for further investment and innovation in Ethiopia’s soft fruit sector. As the country continues to focus on agricultural development and export diversification, the implementation of these greenhouse technologies presents a promising avenue for growth.
Watch the video of the field day and see more information from the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA).
For more information:
Resilience
Resiliencebv.com
Meteor Systems
Minervum 7081
4817 ZK, Breda
Tel.: +31 (0)76 504 2842
www.meteorsystems.nl
Zuaqualla Horti PLC
Wout van Koppen
Email: [email protected]
Ziway old road, Modjo Town
Ethiopia
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