At least four flower nurseries in the vicinity of Bahir Dar in Ethiopia have been damaged by arson and vandalism. A fifth nursery was attacked, but the staff managed to defend it. Royal FloraHolland sympathises with the affected growers and the many employees of these companies. At this moment, Royal FloraHolland is examining how it can help support the nurseries that are members of the cooperative, and what the consequences are for the supply of flowers from Ethiopia.
The damage done to the nurseries is extensive. Several suffered fire damage, and pump houses have been destroyed. This means that water is only available from an emergency supply or rain. Security has been increased around the companies. Many nurseries are members of the Royal FloraHolland cooperative and export their flowers via the Netherlands to other countries in Europe.
In the vicinity of Bahir Dar, there has been tension between the government and the local population for some time. This is the first time, however, that nurseries have become a target on that scale. The nurseries are often a public-private partnership, and some nurseries are entirely owned by the Ethiopian government.
Royal FloraHolland is following the developments closely and will keep those concerned informed as necessary.