Red Fox Ethiopia, a flower production company, today inaugurated Ethiopia’s first beneficial insect breeding center, the Ministry of Agriculture said.
State Minister of Agriculture Sofia Kassa stated that beneficial insects are currently imported into the country at a high foreign currency cost. She noted that Red Fox’s contribution to replacing imported products with locally produced alternatives is significant and commendable.
Director General of the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority, Driba Kuma, highlighted that the use of chemicals to control crop pests can be hazardous, particularly for farm workers. He emphasized that the establishment of the beneficial insect production center by Red Fox is a crucial step toward providing a sustainable solution to this challenge.
Red Fox Africa Director Benjamin Goffrich recalled that the production of beneficial insects by Red Fox began in Kenya and Uganda. He explained that the newly established facility in Ethiopia is the largest beneficial insect production center in East Africa.
The director further noted that the center was established by drawing on experiences from the two countries and will play a vital role in protecting the health of both farm workers and the wider community.
Red Fox Ethiopia General Manager Yordanos Jemal stated that the facility produces beneficial predatory insects that feed on agricultural pests. She explained that local production of these insects will help reduce the foreign currency expenditure previously required to import them into Ethiopia.
