Ethiopia seen doubling  flower export income

Income from Ethiopia's flower exports will more than double to $150 million this year, the head of a private industry body said.

Abebe said Ethiopia's fast-expanding sector, which hopes to rival neighboring Kenya's larger flower industry, was on track to produce between 800 million and 900 million stems for export this year worth $150 million.

That compares to 365 million stems worth $64 million in 2007.

Ethiopian flowers remained popular abroad because they were organic, Abebe said. "We do not use pesticide. Our farmers are using integrated pest-control management without recourse to chemicals," he said.

Offering tax breaks to attract investment, Ethiopia hopes flower exports will overtake coffee and be worth $1 billion in five years time. Flowers are now grown around the country, with farms employing about 60,000 people, mainly women.