TRAVEL DIARY – ETHIOPIA AND KENYA

ETHIOPIA – THE PULSE ON AGRICULTURAL AWAKENING

The air in Addis Ababa these days is charged with a palpable sense of urgent growing and ambition.

Walking through the bustling streets and meeting with our partners, we  experienced a frenetic energy that mirrors the country’s rapid transformation.

In this vibrant, productive atmosphere, we had a nice meeting with Mr. Tamrat Berhanu, managing director of Green Mark, that we have known for some years,  to discuss the road ahead.

SAIS: Mr. Tamrat, it is a pleasure to be here again. Ethiopia’s agricultural landscape seems to be evolving faster than ever. How would you describe the current momentum of the sector?

GREEN MARK: Welcome back. Ethiopia is currently experiencing an exponential growth in professional farming. We are positioning ourselves as a major regional hub for high-quality products. The “Green Revolution” here is real, and the demand for professional-grade seeds is skyrocketing.

SAIS: We have noticed a significant shift towards specialty crops. What can you tell us about the potential for herbs and vegetables in the Ethiopian highlands?

GREEN MARK: The potential is massive. Thanks to our diverse agro-ecological zones and the ideal climate of the highlands, Ethiopia has a natural competitive advantage for aromatic herbs—like basil, chives, coriander, sage, thyme, etc. ) and high-value vegetables (elliptic tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, salads, leeks, etc. ).

We are seeing a 20% to 30% annual increase in land dedication to these crops.

The goal is to meet both the rising domestic demand from the hospitality sector and the demanding export markets in the Middle East, Europe and Russia.

SAIS: In this context of rapid expansion, how do seeds fit into the Green Mark strategy?

GREEN MARK: Seed quality  is the only way to sustain this growth. To compete globally, our growers need consistency, disease resistance, high yields and a compromise between good shelf life of vegetables and herbs and flavor.

SAIS: Looking ahead to the 26/27 season, what are the next milestones for Green Mark and what the new trends will be?

GREEN MARK: Our focus is on consolidation and innovation. We want to introduce more specialized hybrids that can withstand the changing climatic patterns while maintaining the organoleptic qualities.

We are witnessing a continuous evolution and segmentation of the markets. For instance, Germany is currently preferring herbs in pot over the fresh-cut segment. Meanwhile, the Gulf area is currently affected by logistical issues due to regional tensions.

As we approach the summer period, we are shifting our focus more toward vegetables for the domestic market, which consists of 138 million inhabitants with a high concentration in the capital city.

SAIS: Thank you, Tamrat for your time and informations and good luck with your ambitious undertaking . We are sure it will be a success. We would be proud to be part of this journey.

KENYA – GENTILE BASIL MEETS THE NEEDS OF GROWERS, TRADERS AND CONSUMERS.

After visiting Ethiopia , we moved to Kenya for the Sais herbs seeds project , launched a couple of years ago in cooperation with our local seed distributor NIA SEEDS .

The visits and discussions with the most relevant stakeholders in the fresh herbs sector allowed us to see firsthand how our Gentile basil is performing and throughout the supply chain.

Here below the endorsement  of Niels, owner of Kisaju Fresh Herbs, a farmer with a solid background , an impressive operation of 50 tunnels and very strict internal protocols oriented to guarantee top quality , supplying a the UK and Dutch markets.

Niels is very positive about SAIS Gentile variety, that distinguishes it self from other varieties for the  Downey Mikdew resistance , superior yield and traditional italian basil aroma.

“Many other leading basil growers and exporters  shifted their production to 100% Gentile .

What truly tips the scales in favor of this variety are the sheer productivity , the satisfaction of the dealers and  final consumers regarding the fragrance .

The balance between agronomical and commercial skills ensures that Gentile will be a variety that will be talked  about in the region.”