Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with International Saudi Agriculture (ISA) so as to enable the latter exporting organic banana to Saudi Arabia.
While signing the agreement, the Director General of EHDA Haileselassie Tekie said the agreement will enable Ethiopia to secure more than 100 million USD from the export of 60,000 tons of organic banana to Saudi Arabia within six months.
The agreement will benefit up to 30,000 small holder farmers directly or indirectly involved in the cultivation of organic banana by getting a better market price for the product. Besides, the export will create jobs for lots of compatriots in Arba Minch and the nearest localities in the SNNPs.
More than 13,000 hectares of land has being cultivated with organic banana in the Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s State.
The General Manager of ISA, Abdulkareem Al-Ghamdi, on his part said as the demand of Ethiopian organic banana is very high, the company has decided to engage in the export of organic banana to the international market.
The company is planning to provide trainings on post harvest handling to meet the standards of the international market. This will also build the capacity of the smallholder farmers and benefit the country from technology transfer in the sector.
The company has already finalized preparations to commence the export to Saudi Arabia shortly, according to General Manager.
Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), a funding organization, in collaboration with Bioversity International, a project executing agent, have been providing support and working closely with Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA) so as to improve the quality of Ethiopian organic banana. After the implementation of the CFC funding project, Ethiopia has already started to export organic banana to the global market.
International Saudi Agriculture (ISA) is one of the Dr. Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi companies working in the Agriculture sector.
Source: This news article was prepared and sent to 2merkato.com by Mekonnen Hailu, Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA)'s senior communication expert.
