Kenya ’s horticulture industry - its third - largest foreign exchange wage earner , garner around $ 1.15 billion annually - is suffering from lockdown triggered by the coronavirus in its main markets in Europe . Sales of trimmed flower in overseas markets has been below 35 per cent in the past calendar month .
by Clement Tulezi , CEO Kenya Flower Council
Clement Tulezi at the IFTEX 2019 in Nairobi , Kenya .
In the last one week , we have started to see a slight steady recuperation in the external market . Demand is beginning to grow - a foretoken that the flower industry could get back on raceway . This improvement now sit a young challenge . The uncommitted freight capacitance can not accommodate the raise in volume demand .
Prior to the eruption the capacity available per week about 5000 rafts . Today , the capacity tolerate at 1300 tons for all commodities - flowers , fish , vegetables etc . Yet , the current requirement for export is 3500 tons per week .
The sudden fall of the demand in the external marketplace and the fact that most exporters stopped embark , forced most carriers to cancel fights other March . The fall in the passenger flights globally , including the national common carrier has meant that demand for the freighters is huge . And the 1 million clam charters are in high demand . The lure of Kenyan is not exciting any more . Further , the lockdown in African country has impact on crew rest , making it impossible to operate the long sectors .
air hose have increased their rates tremendously . They are currently charging more than doubled the initial cost from Nairobi to most market destinations . exporter are ineffective to foregather these unconscionable price . Yet , they have to service gild for the European Mother ’s daylight this week .
The cut - flush industry in Kenya render direct employment to an reckon 150,000 people , majority women , and overall , creates employment for more than a million people indirectly , impacting in excess of 6 million lives . These chance are at risk .
Exporters now involve urgent financial backing to keep transport going and throw in new animation into the Kenya peak manufacture . We can work with the prominent freight forwarders in Nairobi to draw in some capability , but it come at a cost high than industry can afford . A price - partake in good example to subside the burden on exporters will go a foresightful way in helping make it this catastrophe & save lives .
The interior common carrier , Kenya Airways can utilise its passenger fleet for shipment to inject in supernumerary mental ability with a guarantee southbound dealings . We therefore appeal to government to expeditiously ill-use in with little terminus livelihood such subsidizing of super acid fuel for Kenya Airways to lour costs for exporters . This will also create traffic that could ultimately pull more freighters into Nairobi .
The Kenya Flower Council ( KFC ) is a voluntary membership organisation of cultivator and exporters of slashed flowers and other supply chain actors . KFC work towards ensure that Kenya remains a leading worldwide player in the outside floriculture diligence .
For more information : Kenya Flower CouncilSuite 12 , 4th Floor , The Greenhouse Building , Adams Arcade , along Ngong RoadMobile : ( 254 ) ( 0)733 639 523[email protected]kenyaflowercouncil.org
