21: 05: 2026
The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), in collaboration with COMESA’s East Africa Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA), GIZ, and TechnoServe, has taken a significant step toward transforming Ethiopia’s horticulture sector through a new accelerator initiative.
In a meeting held today at the EHPEA office, EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie hosted representatives from COMESA, GIZ, and TechnoServe to review project progress, explore collaboration opportunities, and agree on the way forward. The discussions focused on how the CEHA-led program can best catalyze growth, competitiveness, and sustainability across Ethiopia’s horticulture value chains.
At the heart of the initiative is the COMESA East Africa Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA) Project, which in Ethiopia is prioritizing strategic value chains for avocados, onions, and potatoes. Through grants supported by COMESA-CEHA and its partners, two Ethiopian companies have already benefited, while three additional companies are currently in the pre-selection stage.
The COMESA team is now conducting due diligence assessments on the shortlisted companies and extending technical and financial support to existing beneficiaries. This combined approach aims to unlock investment, improve performance, and position Ethiopian horticultural enterprises to compete more effectively in both regional and global markets.
Regionally, the CEHA program is being implemented across five East African countries — Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. Its overarching goal is to strengthen horticulture value chains, increase income generation, create employment opportunities, and improve export competitiveness for high-value fruits and vegetables.
In Ethiopia, the initiative is designed not only to boost export earnings but also to tackle structural challenges within the sector. Key priorities include:
• Strengthening regional and international trade in horticultural products
• Reducing post-harvest losses through better handling, storage, and logistics
• Enhancing value addition and quality standards, particularly for export markets
The program further supports agribusiness cooperatives and associations through capacity building, infrastructure development, and technology improvement. By upgrading skills, systems, and facilities, the initiative seeks to foster a sustainable, competitive, and high-growth horticulture sector in Ethiopia.
Today’s meeting at EHPEA marked a concrete step in aligning partners around a shared vision: a more resilient Ethiopian horticulture industry that delivers higher value to farmers, enterprises, and the national economy, while strengthening Ethiopia’s position within the broader East African horticultural market.