A Seminar Review on Impact of Floriculture Industries in Ethiopia

The paper is reviewed the Ethiopian floriculture industries with the objectives to explain the Socio-Economic Significance of Floriculture to Ethiopia, the Socio-economic and Environmental view of Floriculture Industries and to identify the economic implication of floriculture in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has geographical advantages for a floriculture industry, i.e. the high altitude, the vast unexploited arable land and favourable climate for flowers as well as to achieve rapid economic growth. Because of the Government of Ethiopia gave more attention for favourable investment condition and a more enabling atmosphere for private sector development that is the floriculture sector started to grow fast in the last few years that has been increasing investors to invest. Hence, the exports of flowers have generated significant amounts of foreign exchange earnings, contributed to upgrade agricultural production skills, facilitating for best experience sharing and created substantial opportunities for waged employment and self-employment especially for females. However, the expansion of the sector is implemented with environmental degradation i.e. unsafe working conditions of floriculture farm laborers associated to massive chemical usage of the industry, exposing laborers to dangerous pesticides, with failing to provide health safeguards, and with damaging the environment from over use of nature resources as well as even if it creates for many jobs but the amount of pay is not attractive that is why the economic gains is still come at a cost to worker and environmental health. Moreover, the price fluctuation is party attributed to the instability in the supply and the insignificant export volume of cut-flowers is due to the underutilized potential of the sector and the high capital and knowledge intensive nature of the sector. Therefore, the review strongly recommended that Initiate and promote by giving incentives to floriculture producers to exercise integrated pest management practices and use of environmentally friendly agro-chemicals as well as foster better awareness by providing health and safety training to the works. And more importantly, investors ensure that projects respect the rule of law, reflect industry best practice, are viable economically, and result in durable shared value.