Kenya loses flower market in the EU due to Russia-Ukraine war

A worker from Naivasha-based Maridadi flower farm works on roses for exports to the EU market. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

Kenya has lost 25 per cent of its horticulture market in the European Union following Russia's invasion of Ukraine early in the year.

This rise in the cost of living caused by the war has affected consumers' purchasing power, leading to a drop in demand for cut flowers and vegetables in the EU market.

There is however hope that the prices of fuel will fall in the coming months, a move that would reduce the high cost of production.

This emerged at the end of the two-day Naivasha Horticultural Fair which brought together close to 200 exhibitors who had turned up to showcase their products and services.

According to the chairman of the Fair Richard Mcgonnell, the sector continued to record various challenges which were adversely affecting production.

He pointed to the high cost of fertiliser and chemicals as the major ones since the Russia war started some months ago.

"The sector was on its recovery from Covid-19 when the Russia invasion came up leading to a loss of between 20-25 per cent of our market share in the EU," he said.

Further, Mcgonnell expressed concerns over the high prices of electricity compared to the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

"We are deeply concerned by the overheads in this sector which are pushing growers to closure, meaning job and tax losses for the country," he said.

He at the same time challenged the government to assist small-scale farmers on the issue of soil testing which remained a major challenge thus affecting production.

A farmer Elad Bouton from Plantec Kenya farm noted that demand for seedlings was on the rise from farmers despite the rising cost of production. He said that the Naivasha-based firm was keen to keep its standard as demand mainly from horticultural farmers continued to increase on a daily basis.

"Unlike other farmers, we use very little fertiliser but the prices have impacted negatively on our customers as they are interfering with their purchasing powers," he said.

Elad at the same time expressed his concern over taxation regimes terming them as too high for both the producers and their clients.

"We are also concerned by the various inspection regulations of goods before they are shipped out with some of them being tedious and strict," he said.

A breeder Paul de Bruin said that despite the emerging challenges in the sector, they were coming up with various varieties that were resistant to pests and diseases.