By Eyasu Zekarias

Ethiopia’s flower industry, the second largest foreign exchange earner after coffee, is at risk of suffering significant setbacks due to the presence of the False Codling Moth (FCM). According to recent data, the sector was projected to earn $600 million USD from exported flower products in the 2022/23 fiscal year. Notably, Ethiopia, along with Kenya, Ecuador, Vietnam, and the Netherlands, is a major supplier of flower products to the European market.

The European Union Plant Health Unit of DG Sante has made a decision requiring stringent procedures for flower products from European Union countries due to the potential introduction of the FCM, a destructive pest. The Ethiopian Agriculture Authority has acknowledged that the FCM is already prevalent in the country. However, when the pest is transported to European countries, changes in environmental conditions can cause it to become a disease, exacerbating the problem.

Experts in the field emphasize that eradicating the FCM from Ethiopia is a challenging task that demands immediate attention. In response, the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority has initiated discussions with horticulture producer exporters to explore potential solutions and administrative measures.

Unfortunately, a recent report from the European Union, which receives 85 to 90 percent of Ethiopia’s flower production, highlights the significant challenges that lie ahead. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a report regarding the presence of the FCM on flowers since 2018. As a consequence, European countries have warned that imports of flower products from Ethiopia will be halted unless they receive confirmation that the goods are free from FCM.

Diriba Kuma, the Director General of the Ethiopian Agriculture Authority, expressed concern that this decision could have devastating consequences for the country’s flower industry. Although there are approximately 50 players in Ethiopia’s flower industry, FCM has been detected on seven farm stations, resulting in the quarantine of those facilities in European countries.

In recent years, shipments of roses from Ethiopia to Europe have been intercepted due to the presence of FCM. European regulations dictate that the detection of a single living FCM at any stage of development within a shipment leads to the rejection of the entire consignment. FCM is included on the European Commission’s list of harmful organisms recommended for regulation as quarantine pests to prevent its introduction into Europe, where it poses a threat to various outdoor and glasshouse crops.

Prior to the establishment of the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority, horticulture farms in Ethiopia were not subject to strict control measures. Producers and exporters were responsible for self-monitoring and sending their products to foreign markets. However, with the establishment of the authority, the government has now taken an active role in controlling all agricultural products.

Under the newly approved European Union law, the inspection rate for rose consignments has increased from 5 percent to 25 percent due to the growing concerns surrounding FCM. Consequently, any consignment of roses entering the European Union will now undergo a 25 percent inspection. If FCM is found in more than 25 percent of the inspected consignments, the inspection rate may be further increased.

Diriba Kuma, Director General of the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, has emphasized that while the FCM cannot be eradicated in Ethiopia, it can be prevented. He suggests two options for prevention: either prohibiting the entry of the pest into greenhouses or implementing strict control measures. However, a complete ban on FCM could potentially have adverse effects on the national interest.

The False Codling Moth (FCM), also known as Thaumatotibia leucotreta, is a native pest to sub-Saharan Africa and affects over 70 host plants, including roses, citrus fruits, peppers, and maize. Controlling this pest is challenging due to its wide range of hosts. FCM is not only present in Ethiopia but also in Kenya and several islands in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, such as Mauritius and Cape Verde.