The horticulture industry in Kenya is optimistic of quick recovery as global space slowly opens after the Covid-19 disturbance .
Export earnings hit KSh72 billion between January and May 2020 , up from KSh65 billion for the same period last yr , translating to an 11 % increase . The good earnings are for the most part assign to the country ’s ability to ship out produce during the pandemic , swear out a come up requirement for intellectual nourishment .
For the flower sphere however , it was a sturdy call for the exporters who had to balance between sustain a market mien , destroying beautiful flowers , institutionalize workers home , keep plants breathing and protect their farms from the virus .
By Bob Koigi
marketplace mien meant sell flowers , not to make money but to maintain a mien for Kenya , according to Trish Patel , header of merchandising at PJ Dave , whose 80 per cent of orders were scrub . “ We continued shipping the short order come through to insure future markets for Kenya ” , he said .
Oserian Development Company Administration Director Mary Kinyua says the farm exports fell from 1 million stems per day to about 350,000 throwing the company , like many others , into a fiscal mental strain . “ The markets are open up up lento and stop any other kerfuffle we should be back to full business by goal of the year , ” she said adding that it will however take longer to recover from the deprivation .
“ March 15 is a solar day I will not forget in my life ” , said Craig Oulton , General Manager , Floriculture , Kisima Farm based in Timau . The date is etched in the minds of many , being the day President Uhuru Kenyatta announce no entry no expiration from Nairobi , the distribution center for fresh garden truck export . The following hebdomad outside flight were grounded and for a week no garden truck was embark out of the country .
Nairobi hosts the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ( JKIA ) through which fresh produce flies out daily to the various destinations across the world . The ‘ lockdown ’ total as the diligence was grappling with cancellation of order at a decisive time of year ( March - May ) covering Mothers Day , International Womens Day , UK Mother ’s Day and the Easter vacation . tonne of flowers were already harvested quick for Mother ’s Day , arguably the second most important sales day for flowers after valentine . Exporters say this yr lover ’s twenty-four hours was the best in five year and they looked forward to a inflorescence 2020 . Then Covid-19 hit . flight of stairs were grounded as many food market shut but there were spot orders requiring to be supplied . Avocados specially were in high need , and Kenya was the only rural area with the yield in season .
To accord tonic produce clearance , farms and firms staff required memory access documents . ‘ The coordination of the drive of garden truck from farms to the airport in a pandemic challenge remains a proud moment for Kenya ” , say Dr Marube , whose sentiment are echoed by many in the industriousness . “ We did it for Kenya ” , add Fresh Produce Consortium ( FPC ) CEO OkisegereOjepat total , “ I have n’t run across a site when all of us worked in a seamless coordination to ensure our produce got to the markets that have in turn rewarded the body politic . We were in the shelves when nobody else was resulting in increase club and attractive force of unexampled emptor ” , he allege .
National immune carrier . Kenya Airways collapse rider seats to airlift Kenya gardening bring out to Europe as diligence players joined force to secure market at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The Kenya Flower Council , aware that restrictions would be feign had a week earlier alert its members to take steps to insure trucks got cleared at the barricade . “ The KFC did a swell line ” , said Mr Oulton , reflecting the sentiment of many heyday exporters who laud the council for receive the necessary document with pep pill . Mr Oulton adds , “ I am very majestic of the Kenya government and secret sector associations for the cooperation between the various agencies to ascertain our prime pass the grocery .
The market mien for Kenya was reenforce through the Kenya Private Sector Alliance lead Caravan of Hope initiative that see flowers flown through KQ to the UK for contribution to hospitals , an effort that did n’t go unnoticed when President Uhuru Kenyatta recognized Elgon Kenya Managing Director Bimal Kantaria , who chaired the van , among Covid-19 wedge on Madaraka day . Said Mr Kantaria ; UK is a bad market for Kenya and we needed to support them in the hope when grocery open up they would continue buying flowers from Kenya .
East African Growers , exporters of fruit , vegetables and flower say orders from the UK never stopped because of the logistical support all in the chain accorded the industry . The troupe pronounce it was not making money but market presence was authoritative , and they maintain provide to fasten succeeding orders .
Images courtesy of Kenya Airways
