Karuturi Global Limited is the world’s largest producer and exporter of cut roses with operations spread across Ethiopia, Kenya and India. Incorporated in 1994, its farmlands, spread over an area of 250 hectares under Greenhouse cultivation, produce about 500 million rose stems annually. Having established a strong presence in floriculture, the company is now in the process of broad-basing its portfolio to become an integrated agri‐products company with a global presence. The company acquired large tracts of land in Ethiopia to cultivate and export agricultural products such as cereals, cash crops and fresh vegetables.
Karuturi started business in Ethiopia in 2004 through its 100 percent subsidiary, Ethiopian Meadows Plc. Karuturi has two production farms in Addis Ababa: 100 ha of land in Holeta (40 km from Addis Ababa, the capital city), where the net cultivable area is 60 ha; and 385 ha of land in Wolisso (90 km from Addis Ababa), where the net cultivable area is 200 ha. The entire production is under greenhouses. The company started exporting cut flowers from Ethiopia to the Middle East, Holland and Russia in 2006. While the existing 100 hectares of land in Ethiopia became fully operational in FY09, of the additional 385 hectares acquired for roses, 25 hectares will become operational in FY09 and the rest in FY 10-11.
The Company also has palm tree, sugarcane and rice farms in Etang, Gambella State and corn and vegetable farms in Bako, Oromia State.