EHPEA launches urban vertical farming program for young city growers

ETHIOPIA – The Ethiopian Horticulture and Producer Exporters Association has launched a new urban agriculture program that places vertical farming at the center of youth training and employment.

EHPEA rolled out the program titled Vertical Farming for Young Urban Farmers under the Employee Innovation Fund Program in partnership with The Mastercard Foundation and Digital Opportunity Trust.

The initiative targets 600 young people living in urban areas and focuses on hands on skills in modern vertical farming systems.

The association said the program responds to rising pressure on land, growing food demand in cities, and the need for steady jobs for young people. Vertical farming allows crops to grow in stacked layers using controlled systems that save space and water while keeping production close to consumers.

Speaking during the launch, EHPEA Executive Director Ato Tewodros Zewdie said urban farming can address several city challenges at once. “Urban vertical farming gives cities a reliable way to grow food while creating real jobs for young people and improving nutrition,” he said. “It also supports environmental care by reducing land and water use.”

Technology and practical experience

The launch event brought together players from the horticulture and agribusiness sectors. Mr. Roy Brosh, Chief Business Officer at Joytech Fresh Plc, showcased hydroponic vertical farming systems and explained how controlled growing conditions raise output while cutting resource use. “These systems allow farmers to grow more food in smaller spaces and use water more carefully,” Brosh said.

Ato Dinku Desalegne, Farm Manager at Metrolux Flowers, shared lessons from hydroponic strawberry production and pointed to strong market demand. “We have seen that hydroponic strawberries can perform well and meet quality needs when farmers apply the right skills,” he said.

Participants also exchanged views on market access, training needs, and ways to support young farmers as they move into commercial production.

HortiFlora Expo 2026

The program launch comes as EHPEA prepares for HortiFlora Expo 2026, Ethiopia’s leading international horticulture exhibition, set for March 2026 in Addis Ababa. The biennial event will mark its tenth edition and host more than 200 local and international exhibitors from across the global supply chain.

Buyers and firms from Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China are expected to attend. EHPEA will host the expo with HPP Exhibitions Worldwide to support trade, investment, and business links in the horticulture sector.

Ato Tewodros said the expo and the new urban farming program share the same goal. “Both efforts show how horticulture can support jobs, food supply, and business growth in Ethiopia,” he noted.

Registration details are available at www.hortifloraexpo.com/.

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