Nairobi, Kenya — The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has delivered a heavy blow to Kenya’s floriculture sector, leading to weekly losses of up to $1.4 million for local growers. The sector, which the Central Bank of Kenya estimates to be worth over $800 million, is facing reduced demand and shipping disruptions both to the Middle East and Europe.
Marketing Manager Anantha Kumar from Isinya Flower Farms, a facility 56 kilometers south of Nairobi, detailed the impact on operations: “We have seen our exports drop by over 50 percent, from 450,000 stems per day to about 150,000 to 200,000 stems currently.”The Middle East, although not Kenya’s leading flower market, constitutes about 30 percent of Isinya’s exports and 15 percent on a national scale. Europe remains the dominant market, accounting for up to 70 percent of Kenya’s flower exports. However, shipping disruptions to Europe have also taken their toll, with increased freight costs almost doubling.
The Kenya Flowers Council, a private sector organization representing growers and exporters, reported losses exceeding $4. 2 million over the past three weeks, primarily due to market interruptions, shipping disruptions, and soaring freight fees. The Council’s CEO, Clement Tulezi, noted the significant economic strain: “Flower prices have surged to their highest level in a decade, reaching $5.
8 per kilo last week. Such pricing is unsustainable.”With the potential for further losses and the risk of a scenario akin to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts warn that the floriculture sector could see job losses, affecting up to half a million Kenyans.
The Kenya Flowers Council is actively lobbying the Kenyan government for direct cargo flights to Europe to stabilize the market and protect the livelihoods of the nation’s floriculture workforce.
Source: Africanews
