Barely a week after flower exporters in
Kenya reported that the industry was an island of peace
in a sea of turmoil, they are counting their losses following
the eruption of violence in Naivasha on January 27.
By the end of last week, exporters were still coming to
terms with the effects of the violence, which has reportedly
driven 90 per cent of labour out of the flower farms.
For a labour intensive business, having only 10 per cent
of the workers reporting to duty is painful, said the chairman
of the Lake Naivasha Growers Group, Peter Szapary, who is
also the managing director of Wildfire Flowers.
Things could not have come at a worse time considering that
Valentine’s Day is next week, the single most important
event in the flower business — is just next week.
Buyers are wondering whether Kenya will supply the huge
quantities of flowers demanded for this day alone.
The situation becomes more critical when it is realised
that Kenya is currently the single largest source of the
world’s roses.
Israel, previously the second largest producer, has since
bowed out of the business, leaving a huge vacuum.
Roses constitute more than 70 per cent of Kenya’s
flower exports, and by meeting demand for roses used on
February 14, exporters earn more than from the rest of the
year’s sales combined.
Kenya Flower Council chief executive officer Jane Ngige,
speaking after presiding over the annual Kenya Flower Day
in Germany, said the next few days could mean gloom or doom
for the country’s horticulture.
So far, Mrs Ngige said, the industry has managed the supplies,
but for how long the markets can be assured of continued
supplies is tied to an immediate cessation of violence.
The horticultural fraternity held a crisis meeting in Nairobi
on Wednesday in which the exporters came up with a way forward
out of the impending catastrophe.
According to Ms Ngige, a document will be drafted and presented
to the government, local leaders and communities in all
flower growing areas to emphasise the importance of maintaining
peace and ensuring that flowers, which are a major source
of livelihood, are transported to the airport. The most
affected areas are Eldoret, Kericho and Naivasha.
The managing director of Oserian Flowers, Ron Fasol, said
that flower farms have already lost five days of production,
putting pressure on the farms to invest in extra security
to ensure that employees can go to work and return home
safely.
Although Oserian has not been affected by labour shortages
as most of its workers are housed within the farm, it has
joined the rest in setting up an emergency camp at the Karagita
police station where workers can temporarily live and continue
working.
Working with the Kenya Red Cross Society and the Naivasha
Municipal Council, the flower exporters are supplying water,
medicines, food and other necessities to displaced workers
and their families.
Most flower farms in Naivasha are located along the Moi
South Lake Road.
The major operators are Oserian, Homegrown, Sher Agencies,
Longonot Horticulture, Nini Ltd, and Wildfire.
Exporters who spoke to The EastAfrican said they have had
to reshuffle workers and ensure that the “correct
tribe did the right job,” for their workers’
own safety.
“For instance, truck drivers and crew delivering flowers
must speak the “right” language otherwise their
lives will be in danger,” said an exporter who did
not want to be identified.
For flowers to get to the airport, security vehicles are
going ahead to establish that the roads are clear, while
the trucks move in convoys under heavy guard.
Mr Fasol and Ms Ngige said that although supplies have not
been affected, the markets are watching Kenya.
According to Ms Ngige, Kenya is poised to become more important
in the flower business because production is reducing in
Europe owing to escalating costs.
“Europe is realising that it is no longer economical
to produce flowers and the focus is on countries in Africa,
who have lower production costs, to fill the vacuum. This
will lead to a higher demand and better prices,” said
Ms Ngige.
She said Kenya’s competitors are also waiting to cash
in on “our markets,” adding “if we lose
them now, we will never get them back.”
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