There is a growing trend towards diversification of summer flower varieties within the existing horticultural cluster in Ethiopia The current move from reliance on a limited flower variety to Eucalyptus foliage species cultivation has witnessed the gradual trend that promise to diversify Ethiopian flower varieties. This move is driven by the awareness that diversifying flower verities offers numerous benefits, including increased market share in potential flower market destination and flower business stability.
The demand for Eucalyptus foliage species in in Gulf country and Middle East Market has shown a dramatic increase in recent time. This is due to the popularity of the specie in the floral industry for arrangements and decorations purpose and for its unique texture and aromatic properties. The growing interest in its aesthetic appeal advanced floral design gradually also contributes to its demand worldwide.
For the last 15 years south east Asian countries had been the main source of Eucalyptus foliage species suppliers to Gulf State and Middle East countries. Importing of Eucalyptus foliage species from Vietnam to Middle East took on average of 7-8 hours flight time through airplane. In comparison to Vietnam, Ethiopia occupies strategic location and found to be more ideal to explore Eucalyptus foliage species market in Middle East and gulf state. The estimated flight time from Ethiopia to Middle East countries is about 1.87 to 2.5 Hours with an average airplane speed of 567MPH. This contributes to supply fresher foliage to these potential market improve delivery times, enhancing customer satisfaction. The cost of transporting flower and these foliage from Ethiopia to Middle east and Gulf country much cheaper in comparisons from Vietnam . The average fright cost for 1kg of flower or eucalyptus forage from Ethiopia to Middle East and gulf countries like Saudi Oman Beirut is about 1.30 to 1.37 USD. Whereas from Vietnam to Middle East and gulf countries it cost 4 to 5 dollar per kg Thus Ethiopia being closer to Middle East and gulf countries shortest air distance would significantly reduce transportation costs for its perishable product and reducing overall logistics overall production costs and global markets
triggered by this awareness and the need to explore the potentate advantage derived from these eucalyptus foliage verities a number of flower companies in high and mid land of Ethiopia started to introduce and cultivate different varieties. Ideally the mid land and highland of Ethiopia suitable for cultivation of wide ranging eucalyptus species. Planation of eucalyptus in Ethiopia goes back to the time of Emperor Minilik II when he established the present capital of the country, Addis. With the development of the capital and other cities, he noted the shortage of fuelwood and other construction materials could hamper the development of the cities. In 1895, the emperor then introduced Eucalyptus from Australia by making innovative administrative ways which includes providing tax relief for Eucalyptus growers and distribution of seeds and seedlings for free. To date around 506,000 hectares of land is believed to be covered by Eucalyptus, which is the largest in Africa comparatively 8 and 5 times Kenya’s and Rwanda Eucalyptus coverage respectively. Presently, there are 55 species of Eucalyptus tree growing in Ethiopia, of which the most widespread species include Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus regnant, Eucalyptus saligna and Eucalyptus teratorns.
Despite its importance, the introduction of new eucalyptus foliage species for ornamental purpose is a new phenomenon in Ethiopia. Afri-flower plc and Gallica flowers are an Ecuadorian and France flower farms who, located at high land horticulture development clusters, are the first two foreign company who demonstrate the introduction and cultivation of this eucalyptus foliage species in Ethiopia. The other Dutch flower farm, friendship flower, also take root and make a trial cultivation .
The most important eucalyptus commercial summer flower foliage species introduced in Ethiopia highland in mid land are four in number. These are silver dollar (cinerea), baby blue, parviflora and lemon bush Eucalyptus foliage. These verities are noted for their small stem and purple, green and silver young stems, juvenile leaves smell of peppermint and lemon These species marks an exciting new chapter in the country’s prosperous flower industry. What makes baby blue, silver dollar (cinerea), parviflora and citriodora Eucalyptus foliage species different from traditionally established Eucalyptus planation is that the stems and leaf of the new verities are used as ‘fillers’ in mixed flower bouquets supplying high street florists, an export market to specialist flower bouquet processing companies in the Europe and middle east who in turn supply the major supermarkets and other retail outlets including an expanding mail order marketplace. These eucalyptus foliage species cutting and seeds planting materials are not available in Ethiopia. They are brought from Europe, Latin America and Israel.
Even though Afri-flower, Gallica flowers and friendship flower started to develop and intensify the production of these eucalyptus commercial summer flower foliage the opportunity to export these species was remained as challenge for the last 3 years. This is due to the Ethiopian custom legal regulation that commonly restrict export of agricultural product that did not have minimum selling price. In Ethiopia there is a legal practice of regulating minimum selling price that a government sets for a product. It’s National Bank regulated price that prevents prices from falling below the end market clearing price .unlike other cut flower like rose summer flower, eucalyptus commercial summer flower foliage did not have minimum selling price set by National Bank of Ethiopia. Due to this reason flower farms used to cut and throw these valuable species after bad. These companies considered growing of Eucalyptus foliage species as a falling venture or wasting of valuable resource that could otherwise be used elsewhere.
Overtime however the value of these species trade has been recognized. It was on major international horticulture trade fair, at show case of Afri flower, that took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from April 1-3, 2025, the eye of many supporting agencies were widely opened and realized that throw these valuable species is also a loss for the country and understood the advantage that were previously unaware.
Consequently the Ministry of Agriculture with close collaboration of the National bank of Ethiopia and Custom authority has set a minimum floor price for eucalyptus commercial summer flower foliage which indeed subject to periodic revision depending on the realistic selling price information obtained from various market destination.
Currently these farms started exporting eucalyptus commercial summer flower and tried to develop more land installation of drip of drip irrigation system. Many more flower farms has also eager and showed interest to diversify their flower production with their unused and vacant farm area. One of the piacular nature of eucalyptus commercial summer flower foliage is that that the cost of doing this business is less expense in comparison to rose and summer farm venture. These crops could grown as eco-friendly manner in open field. There is a good opportunity to grow these species with outgrows through contract farming schemes which would create more job opportunity for rural youth and women and also improve alternative source of household incomes for local farmers.
Mekonnen Solomon is a Horticulture Export Coordinator at Ministry of Agriculture and can be reached via ehdaplan@gmail.com
