ADDIS ABABA – Despite having abundant potential, the country’s export performance of spice, herbs, and aromatic sub-sector is said to be low.
Addisu Alemayehu, Private Spice Growers Association President and spice researcher told The Ethiopian Herald that the presence of various agro-climatic zones has enabled the country to have huge potential to produce a wide variety of spice, herbs, and aromatic with exceptional quality. But the country has not managed to generate a significant amount of export revenue from the sector.
Addisu recalled in 2017, the sub-sector registered record high export revenue of 33 million USD. Yet, the economy has not been able to increase or sustain this performance and it was able to earn only 21 million USD from export.
According to him, the country today produces as much as 60 spices of the 109 spices species listed by International Standard Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Being home to a diversity of spices, potential grower areas, various agro-climatic topography, climatic conditions and a vast area specially reserved for tasty spice growing, more attention and efforts are needed to stimulate the export performance of the sector, he stressed.
The country produces organic spices and most of which are not easily found across the globe as they are endemic to Ethiopia. This is a big potential to penetrate into the international market, he said.
Even if Ethiopians have been cultivating spices and herbs since ancient times, the current production and productivity is low due to the application of traditional agriculture.
“Almost all the foods and drinks consumed daily by Ethiopians lives consist of one or more spices and herbs, especially pepper,” he said. The poor export performance could also be attributed to this factor, hence the need to boost production.
Currently, global spices produce demand is growing, and if the country manages to tap the best out of its potential, it can benefit a lot economically, Addisu added. For this to happen, a lot of work is expected particularly in improving the policy landscape, application of technology and commercialization of the sector.
As to him, countries like Vietnam and India with favorable agro-climatic zones like Ethiopia are reaping the blessings of the sector being competitive both in the international market.
Spices and herbs have many applications as a natural ingredient and input in the food, textile, garment, leather, as well as cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
The Ethiopian Herald February 20/2020
BY TEWODROS KASSA
