Esayas Kebede, General Manager of the parent company of Agri-Lake Flowers; Agri-CEFT Plc, at the BSI Meeting which took place at FloraHolland last September.
Reason expansion
According to Anbesso, the main reason why Agri-Lakes Flowers is expanding is the fact that the company is committed to a five year strategic plan. Within five years, they plan to cover 30 ha of the total landholding of 50ha with rose cut flowers. "Our company believes in the production of large amounts of high quality rose cut flowers in order to become one of the most reliable suppliers in the flower market. Inaddition, the success that we have seen so far has provided us with data toprove that the area is very suitable for flower growing. This suitability has also influenced ourdecision to expand. There are idealconditions in the region," says Anbesso.
Phase 2
The expansion of this new greenhouse is the second phase of the plan. "The first phase, which covers a 5ha sized greenhouse, was finalized in 2015 and is in full production at the moment. In May 2016, the new 10,7 ha sized greenhouse is planned to be finished. The greenhouse is manufactured and installed by Richel Group (locally represented by Irrico) and has, according to Anbesso, a higher quality and will be stronger than the existing structure. By adding this new greenhouse the annual production will increase drastically. "Currently in the 5ha sized greenhouse, we grow 6 million stems a year. When the new greenhouse is finished, we anticipate growing 16 million stems a year," says Anbesso.
Future plans
Regarding the five year strategic plan of Agri-Lake Flowers Farm, the company will grow rose cut flowers in a 30ha sized greenhouse in 2018. So, 15 ha still needs to be added. "In 2017, we are planning to add another 10ha and in 2018 another 5 ha," says Anbesso.
Agri-Lake Flowers
Agri-Lake Flowers is an Ethiopian rose farm that was established in 2004 and is part of the larger Ethio Agri-CEFT Plc that was founded in 1998. This diversified company has produced flowers at its Holleta location since 2004. The farm of Agri-Lake Flowers is located in Bahir Dar, around 500 km north of Addis Ababa and is growing rose cut flowers at an altitude of 1,800 meters. In the current greenhouse, five different varieties are being cultivated. In the new greenhouses, some selected varieties that are already in use as well as some new varieties will be planted. The majority of the roses are being sold at the FloraHolland auction in the Netherlands.
For more information:
Ethio Agri-Ceft Plc
Email: esake21@yahoo.com, ethioagriceft@ethionet.et, sonyanbesso@yahoo.com
www.ethioagriceft.com