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Sher-Ethiopia, the largest flower farm in Ethiopia,
has revealed its interest to acquire a portion of
the former Ethio-Korean farm in Meki town of the
Oromia Regional State, 134Km away from Addis Abeba.
The company has tabled a request to the Regional
State to get hold of a 300ht plot of land from the
farm.
“We will reply to the request in next to no time,”
Alemu Seme, commissioner of the Oromia Investment
Commission, told Fortune.
Sher intends to use the farm as a horticulture
plantation. If Sher acquires the plot, it will
become the largest producer of flowers.
Ethio-Korea farm is 3,000ht. It was first developed
through a joint effort by the military Derg
regime and the Korean government over 20 years ago.
Although canals and other facilities had been
installed in the farm for the cultivation of
horticulture back then, the project was dropped 17
years ago when the new administration took over
power. Part of it is now being cultivated by local
farmers.
“The attractive benefits that Sher will provide to
farmers close to its project, in addition to its
investments, will sway the regional state to give it
a positive reply,” a senior official of the region
told Fortune.
Established on July 1, 2006, Sher has built a
primary school and hospital in Ziway at a cost of 30
million Br. The flower farming company was formed by
a group of Dutch investors, which is currently
working on 500ht of land in Ziway, 163Km east of
Addis Abeba. On this vast plot of land, Sher has
constructed green houses, drip irrigation facilities
and other infrastructure and is leasing it out. The
farm is being utilised by some horticulture
cultivating companies, but is dominated by those
that produce cut flowers.
The farm originally was occupied by Zeway
Agricultural Development before it was transferred
to Sher in two phases. Sher now intends to add Ethio
Korea farm to its investments.
A general manager of one of the state farms told
Fortune that Ethio-Korea Farm is situated in an
ideal place for horticultural development as it lies
next to the Awash River.
The government has given due attention to the
horticulture sector of late. The Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development has identified
four corridors for the cultivation of horticulture:
Rift valley, Dire Dawa, Dedessa Valley and Tana
Beles. State farms included, these areas
collectively sum up to 400,000ht of land.
The Ministry has advised the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Privatization and Public Enterprises
Supervisory Agency and Ethiopian Investment Agency
to make the details of these sites available to
potential investors.
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