Kenya's horticulture earnings and exports up

Kenya has earned Ksh 33.8 billion ($392.9 million) from horticulture exports in the first four months of 2013. This is a 30 per cent increase in volume and a 13 per cent rise in value compared to the same period in 2012. This is attributed to the increased volume and value of pulses to India. For the floriculture industry, the volume and value of flower exports remained stable during the period. This was as a result of the relative stability of the Kenyan shilling and market diversification to East Asian markets following the recent launch of direct flights to South Korea.

The flights, by national carrier Kenya Airways, are expected to give flower farmers direct access to the East Asia market, by-passing the European and Dubai flower auctions (which have limited the penetration to East Asia) and boosting the sector with increased flower sales.

The Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) managing director Alfred Serem said the new markets in South Korea and Japan are expected to account for between five and ten percent of the flower exports, potentially helping the country bridge the imbalance in trade that is currently heavily tilted in favor of the Asian economic powers.

Source; KHCP Market report, July 2013