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The Home Garden Project, which has undertaken a
study to identify certain products to be branded and
promoted by place of origin, is expecting an
extension beyond its envisaged termination at the
end of 2010, because of a delay in the ratification
of the Geographical Indication Bill, which would
carryout the implementation.
The project was launched in 2006 and was originally
intended to run until 2010. Since 2006, it has
identified agricultural products based on their
taste and quality, so that these products can be
marketed using their geographical origin as a brand.
Among these location-branded products are Tigray and
Masha white honey, Harar senga (bulls fattened to be
butchered), Dendi garlic, Limu coffee, Assosa
mangos, Ankober sunflowers, and Debre Brehan brandy.
“We have completed the study and identified the
locations. We are only waiting for the law,” said
Yigzaw Ayalew, project manager.
The bill has been repeatedly discussed with
stakeholders, and it is one of those bills that
could be ratified in the 2009/10 fiscal year,
according to an official at Parliament, who asked
not to be named because he was not mandated to speak
on the issue.
This delay, according to Yigzaw, is going to
necessitate the extension of the project.
French wine and Cuban cigars are among those pricey
products that enjoy the benefits of geographical
branding. The ratification of the bill in Ethiopia
will help the identified products benefit from the
special promotion and the higher prices that result,
Yigzaw says.
“Ethiopia is a diverse country. Many products can be
marketed in a similar manner,” he said.
Geographical indication is recommended by the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) to identify a product by
its specific location in a member country were it
originates in order to recognise and signify its
quality, uniqueness and authenticity.
The Home Garden Project is financed by the French
Global Environment Facility, and the identification
of the places and the products was conducted by
experts from Addis Abeba University and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)assisted by
experts from France.
Upon termination of the project, the work will be
carried out solely by EPA. The agency has already
been given part of the old Mohamedally building in
the compound of the old (Arada) Post Office to stage
a permanent display of the products that have been
identified.
The project office has completed the design to
rearrange the building to fit the new purpose,
Yigzaw says. The remaining part of this building has
been given to Addis Wubet, a local NGO engaged in
refurbishing historical buildings.
This building belonged to an Indian company, G.M.
Mohamedally, a famous Indian company in the days of
Menelik established by the Gujarati Mohamedally, who
was also the Indian community’s spokesperson at the
Imperial Court, according to historical records. His
company handled much of the ivory export from Addis
Abeba.
In fact, in 1909, the company was given the monopoly
of the ivory trade from Maji in the Southern
Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPR),
which enabled it to indirectly benefit from a £2,000
loan (at 1909 rates) from the Bank of Abyssinia,
which was intended to encourage general trade but
largely went to ivory traders who supplied
Mohamedally. |
