The horticulture sector is vital for fostering rural economic growth and improving diet diversity in Ethiopia. However, its performance lags behind other agricultural sectors due to key challenges, including limited access to high-quality seeds, pest issues, and gaps in the knowledge and skills required for the complex horticultural production process. To address these challenges, the ATI has designed the Horticulture Farmers Production Cluster (HFPC) project as a comprehensive value chain approach. The project focuses primarily on farmer-level interventions by clustering farmers to increase production scale and improve agronomic practices. Its main objectives are to enhance the quality and quantity of horticultural produce supplied to local and export markets and to meet the demands of agro-processing industries with sufficient quality and volume of produce. The project is implemented across 17 woredas in various regions, including Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Sidama, and Southern Ethiopia. Key partners and stakeholders include the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Bureaus of Agriculture, and research institutes, among others.
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