Production Description: Horticulture coves a wide range of products which can be grouped into vegetables, herbs, mushroom and flowers. The Amhara region has great potential and suitable natural resources for the production of these groups of horticultural crops. Infact this project refers to only assorted vegetable production which includes cabbages, lettuce, Tomato, Beans, Green pepper, asparagus, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Carrot, Beetroots, Spinach, and Pap-rika etc. These products can be supplied s green and fresh, chilled or frozen and packed depending on the market location and requirement. Combining different kinds of vegetable production creates better opportunity for crop rotational practices and gives advantage of utilizing common faculties such s washing, cleaning cooling and storage facilities. Plus marketing assorted vegetables facilitate an increase marketable volume by attracting more customers.
Rationale: The Amhara Region has large areas and water resources suitable for the production of assorted vegetables. Compared to cereals, pulses and oil crops, vegetables are very high in productivity per unit of land which can play substantial role to increase the food supply of the region. With a growing urban population, which is totally market dependent, and the current food supply shortage, expansion in vegetable production will play a significant role in increasing food supply of the region.
On the other hand, unbalanced and inadequate nutritional status of the people is still a central problem in the region. Deficiency of essential food elements, such as protein, vitamins and minerals are widely observed s basic food intake is below the minimum requirement in the region. Increase in blindness due vitamin a deficiency is an alarming circumstance in region. Therefore, vegetables are important source of vitamins, minerals and also good sources of protein as well.
Market Potentials: The Amhara Region has a total population of 19.40 million of which 12 percent or 2.2 million is urban population. The urban population is growing at 4.25 percent per annum. There is already a food supply shortage in the region, which aggravates the unbalanced and inadequate nutritional status. Hence there is a huge potential market for vegetable production. Currently very limited traditional vegetable crops such as cabbage, green pepper, onion, potato, produced in limited quantities for local consumption. Awareness for the important of vegetable consumption is very low, but can be quickly raised through aggressive promotional works, through television, and the extension system.
Source of Raw Material: Seeds, seedlings, plant protection chemicals and fertilizer have to be imported or could b accessed form local dealers. In most cases they are available locally.
Production Process and Technology: Most vegetable crops can be produced under rain-fed and irrigation systems. The rain-fed production system is highly seasonal, quality and productivity is low. With irrigation production system the production cycle can be twice or more per year, and supply throughout the year is possible. Depending on the market requirement and location, vegetables can b e supplied green and fresh or chilled, frozen and packed. The production process requires tractors, irrigation structures small agricultural tools and implements. The marketing side may require cold trucks, stores and cool display facilities. Incase exporting to other regions or foreign market is required washing, cleaning, cooling, frozen and packing facilities are required depending on the distance and the customers requirements
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Investment Cost Estimate: A feasible commercial production of vegetable farm size should be in the range of 150 to 200 hectares. The cost estimate of such a farm size with the required processing facilities will be in the range of Birr 27-30 million.
Benefits: Investment in assorted vegetable production will help increase food supply in the region, alleviate food deficiency problem and hence reduce or eliminate the prevalence of blindness in the region. Because vegetable production is labor-intensive in nature, both in the primary production and the processing stage, it will create ample employment opportunity in the region. In addition to this, it will generate incomes to all stakeholders in the form of wage and salary, profit, income tax and VAT.
Location: The project can be located wherever there are perennial rivers with ample and suitable water and irrigable areas. Most zones of the region have sufficient and areas and commendable rivers for irrigation.