Isn’t this a case of misguided economic policy? Why don’t they grow teff, wheat, corn, and other food crops for the local market to feed the millions of starving people at home first before providing flowers to European markets?
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By Jason McLure, Bloomberg — Ethiopia may export $186 million in flowers to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East this year, the Ethiopian Producer Exporters Association said.
Exports last year are estimated at $125 million, Kassahun Mammo, executive director of the association, said in an interview in the capital, Addis Ababa, today.
“This is a sector where we can generate foreign exchange for the country,” he said.
Flower production in Ethiopia, Africa’s second-biggest exporter of the blooms after Kenya, is increasing since the government offered farmers incentives to start flower farms, including waiving duties on imported machinery and grace periods for tax payments.
Ethiopia began exporting flowers in 2001-02, when income totaled $159,000. Exports soared to $2.9 million the following year.
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To contact the reporter on this story: Jason McLure in Addis Ababa via the Johannesburg bureau at [email protected].