The country at the same
time saw a rise in production of flowers in the month of
January the worst month ever in independent Kenya history
when violence hit the country, at levels never witnessed
before.
Kenya , however managed to increase production by 15% during
the month from7380-8490 metric tons in the month of December.
This was achieved despite violence hitting flower farms
around the town of Naivasha , the main growing area in the
country and parts of Rift Valley including Eldoret, another
catchment area.
But outgoing head of Kenya flower Council (KFC) Erastus
Mureithi said urgent measures were taken to address the
situation ensuring that highly perishable commodity reached
the market on time and at desired levels.
Among the measures taken was to fly the p[produce directly
from farms in Eldoret to Nairobi for onward transmission
to Europe as opposed to using road to deliver the flowers
to Nairobi.
And although some workers were displaced by the violence
especially in Naivasha, new ones were hired immediately
to ensure the labour intensive business of floriculture
was not interrupted.
“The sector has performed admirably in difficult times
underlining the resilience of the Kenyan people and the
economy to survive even at worst of times” Said Mureithi.
The sector he said could only face better times ahead with
violence having abated and mediation process by Kofi Annan
looking more promising .
“We can proudly say that we have met all or orders
in Europe and locally to meet the Valentine’s day
demand and the mother’s day in Europe and America”
, the KFC chairman added.
The sector as such Mureithi said will continue to as leading
foreign exchange earner after tea and followed by tourism.
“Our European customers now have nothing to worry
about since we have satisfied all their orders contrary
to their fears that the violence may hinder our capacity’
he added.
Kenya has remained the leading cut-flower produce in Africa
exporting most of it to Netherlands for onward distribution
to the rest of Europe and consumption in that country.
Flights with flower and green produce leave the Jomo Kenyatta
Airport in Nairobi daily, bound for Amsterdam asserting
Kenya’s place as the leader in the world of fresh
produce and flowers.
The country has lately faced stiff challenge from Ethiopian
producers who have been getting a lot of support including
tax relief from their government
This week Mureithi said the sector was delighted at the
slight weakening of the Kenya shilling against the dollar,
a situation that has posed serious challenge in the past
.
He said that while the weaker local currency was welcome
a very weak one was not good for the sector since it would
make imported farm inputs very expensive .
The shilling has this been trading at 70- 72 units to the
US currency as opposed to 60-62 in the month of December
, a development that angered exporters and forced them to
appeal to central bank to intervene.
|
Select a Florist
