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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Tanzania to Kenya: Stop sabotaging our flower sector

Business

By - | Jan 23, 2013

By Njiraini Muchira

But Kenyan authorities have said they will not allow Tanzania’s traders to use JKIA to export flowers until they meet required safety standards

The country’s determination to protect the lucrative cut flower industry from pests and diseases is putting it on a warpath with Tanzania.

This comes after Tanzania accused Kenya of sabotaging its nascent cut flower industry by refusing to lift a ban prohibiting Tanzania from using the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as a transit route to international markets.

Kenya has, however, disputed Tanzania’s claims, with Managing Director of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis), James Onsando, telling The Standard that the country is willing to lift the ban as soon as Tanzania complies with all risk assessments.

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“Tanzania is yet to comply with some of the risk analysis issues raised in a memorandum of understanding (MoU). As soon as they do that, we will lift the ban,” he said.

The ban, imposed in 2011 ostensibly to protect Kenya’s cut flowers from the risks of pests and diseases, has made it difficult for Tanzanian farmers to export their produce, particularly to Europe.

Tanzania prefers using JKIA so as to ride on Kenya’s successful cut flower industry, conducive weather in Nairobi – and also because there are no regular cargo flights from Dar-es-Salaam International Airport.

Blossoming industry

Players in Tanzania’s cut flower industry believe by failing to lift the ban, Kenya is sabotaging the blossoming sub-sector estimated to be worth Sh6.8 billion.

The move is threatening to worsen the already antagonistic trade relations between the two neighbours at a time when the East Africa Community is pushing towards deepening regional integration.

Dr Onsando said Kephis will not lift the ban until Tanzania adheres to the agreements contained in the MoU to protect the local industry. He added that although a pest risk analysis has been conducted, Tanzania is yet to address all the issues raised to warrant the lifting of the ban.

“As soon they do what we agreed, lift the ban will be lifted,” he stated.

The cut flower industry is critical to Kenya’s economy. Statistics from the Kenya Flower Council (KFC) show that the sector has been expanding at an average of 20 per cent per annum, with export volume rising from 86,480 tonnes in 2006 to 121,891 tonnes in 2011.

Huge market

The industry is also a major foreign exchange earner, raking in Sh44.5 billion in 2011 with over half a million Kenyans depending on the industry directly.

Kenya is a major exporter to the European Union, contributing over 35 per cent of all flower sales.