Kenya’s European Union (EU) market share is about 38%
Kenya’s flower industry is the oldest and largest in Africa contributing 1.29% of the national GDP. The sector has continued to record growth in volume and value of cut flowers exported every year. According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in 2013, the floriculture industry exported 124, 858 tons valued at Kshs 46.3 billion. It is estimated that over 500,000 people, including over 90,000 flower farm employees depend on the floriculture industry.
The main production areas are around Lake Naivasha, Mt. Kenya, Nairobi, Thika, Kiambu, Athi River, Kitale, Nakuru, Kericho, Nyandarua, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gichu, Kajiado and Eastern Kenya.
Kenya is the lead exporter of rose cut flowers to the European Union (EU) with a market share of about 38%. In the United Kingdom, supermarkets are the main retail outlets. Other growing destinations include Japan, Russia and USA.
To ensure sustained access to international markets compliance in the Kenya Flower industry is necessary and it is clear from consistent reports and concerns raised in the public space, that more work on the robustness and thorough implementation of the regulatory systems needs to take root. This also includes the pressures exerted by the markets. All efforts to make compliance more inclusive and to capture all exporters must be harnessed by both the private sector as well as the regulatory arms of Government.
Currently Kenya flower farms subscribe to different local and international standards to ensure that the flowers are responsibly and safely produced with due consideration of workers welfare and protection of the environment. The standards look onto good agricultural practice, sustainability, social accountability, hygiene health and safety, capacity building, environmental protection and conservation.
Some of the certifications embraced in the Kenyan flower sector include, Global GAP, Kenya Flower Council silver and gold standard, Tescos Nurture, Fairtrade, FLP, MPS-SQ, MPS-Social, MPS-ABC and Rainforest amongst others.
Locally, Kenya has a Standard KS 1758 with specific reverence to flowers and ornamentals. It is currently under review under a project National Mechanism of Compliance (NMC) spearheaded by the Kenya Flower council and funded by the Dutch Government. The standard under Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) scope will be expanded to include breeders, propagators, consolidators, shippers and cargo handlers.
NMC is deemed necessary since it will make compliance more inclusive capturing all exporters. Following the review, the standard will be submitted to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) for adoption and shall be subject to the standard development process to become a Kenya Standard. All flower industry value chain players –will be expected to follow laid down procedures to ensure that flowers are produced and handled in a responsible way at every point.
Why subscribe to a Code of Practice?
Flower farms should be encouraged to subscribe to standards since this is the only way to ensure that their systems are working in accordance with the set laws and requirements. There is need to have one mandatory standard to regulate the industry and this will enhance market access. Policy measures are required to ensure that cut-flower export licenses are only issued to those adhering to a national code of practice.
To effectively and efficiently resolve the problems experienced in the cut flower industry in terms of worker welfare, health and rights in Kenya. More organization and education and training of workers need to be done in order to empower the workers to assert their rights without permanently being reliant on outsiders to fight on their behalf. Workers require training in labour laws that govern the conditions of the provision of their labour. Knowledge of their rights begins with general civic information about governance in the country which could be provided by some of the specialized groups working at farm level.
The standards play a big role in development planning and poverty alleviation in particular. Many workers are housed on the farms and others rented accommodation where they get a house allowance. A mean of transport or transport allowance is also provided for to the workers. Through compliance freedom of association among the workers is more enhanced with most subscribing to welfare association.
Health and safety issues are generally taken more seriously in code adopting farms compared where they have a health and safety officer on site as well as a health and safety committee. Workers are also provided with protective clothing and large majority are provided with medical care for themselves and their family members.
In a nut shell, these codes are intended to help employers critique themselves and to enhance their efficiency. Compliance is key and is about what we must do.