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The horticulture sector stands to lose about Sh4 billion monthly if a key trade deal with the European Union is not signed by October 1. Regional countries that make up the East African Community (EAC) are supposed to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) jointly. The agreement gives the region’s products duty-free export access to European markets. For the EPAs to be valid, the entire region needed to agree to them, but special concessions would remain in place for least developing countries.

Kenya, therefore, stands to lose the most if export subsidies are withdrawn. However, Tanzania and Uganda have been dragging their feet in reaching the deal.

Kenya Flower Council (KFC) Chairman Richard Fox said failure by Kenya to sign the EPA will subject it to export duty of between 8 per cent and 12 per cent, which will amount to 3 million pounds per month (Sh4 billion).

Kenya is the only country in the EAC considered a developing country, while its neighbours are still ranked as least developed countries (LDC), thus allowing them duty free market access. The LDC countries are not required to sign EPAs since their preferences will continue under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme.

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Popularly known as IFTEX, the show brings buyers from across the world to meet with growers who have staged a spectacular show of unarguably one of the best mixes of flowers the world can get, as well as the industry supply chain of products and services that together deliver the final bouquet to the customer’s vase.

IFTEX 2016 was special as it marked the fifth year since the show was launched in 2011. In addition, several celebrations and important meetings for flower industry stakeholders coincided with the fair, attesting to the growing importance of the event to the sector.

The Kenya Flower Council was celebrating its 20th anniversary and its global counterpart Union Fleurs (Union of International Flower Associations) held its Annual General Meeting during IFTEX week.

Due to the great interest of existing exhibitors to participate again, but also from many new companies and the invitation to flower growers from surrounding countries, IFTEX extended its exhibition space with another 2,000m² bringing the total exhibition area to 10,000m², attesting to its year on year growth.

IFTEX has stumped its authority as a leading flower trade show in the world. From the beginning, the event exhibited signs of setting a new record as the fastest growing flower show in the history of international flower trade fairs due to its attracting exhibitors and visitors from other continents and five years later, all indications are, the position still holds.

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Kenya’s floriculture sub-sector is courting the United States, Chinese, Korean, Australian and Japanese markets as it seeks to expand from traditional European Union (EU) market.

Delegates of leading international buyers, wholesalers and retailers from almost a dozen countries outside the EU market attended the fifth edition of the International Flower Trade exhibition (IFTEX).

 

Middle East Market

The phenomenal growth of Black Tulip Group in flora trade is set to benefit Kenya more than any other country. Currently the group has boasts of Black Petals, Blue Sky ltd, Laurel Investments, Utee Estate, Golden Tulip farms Ltd and Tropiflora Ltd. Speaking exclusively to Floriculture Magazine, Mr. Sunny Abraham, a director with the Sharjah based group said they were establishing more presence in the country. He added, the company has acquired more farms in Kenya but this does not stop them from buying from growers. “Our market is large and cannot be sustained from our production. We are looking for more Kenyan growers to buy flowers from”. he said.

Agro-climatic conditions at Kenya are best suited for cultivating host of cut flowers for consistent and quality supplies. We recognized this potential and launched a Group company to basket an attractive product mix.

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“East African Packaging Industries LTD. are making magic. In one word, they exist for the sake of simplicity. They focus their efforts into taking on all the worries over packaging from their customers, leaving them to concentrate on their core activities. Their contribution to the business mix is brief, crisp, penetrating, perceptible and a creative insight into the minds of consumers. Memorable ideas, images and stories, where less is more and understanding triumphs over information”, I concluded as Mr Nick Barnes took us through the interview. In his narration from one department to the other, one statement kept on recurring, no compromise to quality.

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Royal De Ruiter East Africa Holds Successful Open Days Showcase

Royal De Ruiter East Africa welcomed African rose growers and other players in the floriculture industry to their first open house showcase this year. The two day event held on 9th and 10th March was an opportunity for Royal De Ruiter to showcase their current commercial varieites, new market introductions as well as code varieties. “The open days were timely as we got to share with our partners our strategic plan moving forward especially after receiving our royal designation just before close of 2015,” said Edward Manning, MD Royal De Ruiter East Africa. Notably present during the open days was one of Royal De Ruiter owner directors Henk de Groot who interacted with guests as they shared ideas and exchanged deals.

Rose varieties bred at Royal De Ruiter are sold worldwide, supported by a network of agents and representatives who provide prospective buyers with carefully compiled information based on measurements carried out on our products at our various testing facilities. Royal De Ruiter also has testing facilities in all of its production areas across the globe, an approach that has proved highly beneficial in realising the firm’s envisioned goals in respect of product differentiation.

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Briefly discuss Matt Fryer (Background and Managing Director Arysta LifeScience East Africa)

I was born into a farming community in South Africa, and my love for farming, nature and the outdoors started as far back as I can remember.

After completing my BSC Agric in 2002, I went on to work for a small crop protection company, Gap Chemicals, based in Kwazulu Natal and focused on Sugarcane. The small size of the company resulted in me being exposed to all aspects of running a successful business and this quickly revealed yet another passion I have for customer service.

In 2008 I joined Arysta LifeScience South Africa as a Key Account Manager and in addition to my deliverables I took on active roles in the S&OP process, demand planning and had a short stint of looking after the Southern Africa export business. In 2014 I was appointed Commercial Manager for South Africa, mainly as a support role to the Commercial Director, and was responsible for forecasting, pricing, stock distribution and allocation. In early 2015 I was offered the incredible opportunity to move to Nairobi. Having spent my entire career being based in South Africa, it was an easy decision to make to move here and embark on this new leadership challenge.

 

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We cannot close our eyes to the problems the world faces. At Agrichem Africa Limited® we believe that business must be part of the solution. But to be so, business will have to change. Sustainable, equitable growth is the only acceptable business model.

Agrichem Africa Limited® works to create a better future every day, with brands and services that help people feel good, look good and get more yields out of the harvest. Our first priority is to our consumers – then farmers, employees, suppliers and communities. When we fulfil our responsibilities to them, we believe that our shareholders will be rewarded.

Agrichem Africa Limited® has, from its origins, been a purpose-driven company. Today our purpose is to make sustainable farming a common activity. This means helping to build an industry where everyone lives well and within the natural limits of the planet:

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Kenya Flower Council (KFC) is a voluntary association of independent growers and exporters of cutflowers and ornamentals, formed in 1996, with the aim of fostering responsible and safe production of cut flowers in Kenya with due consideration of workers welfare and protection of the environment.

Against this background the KFC has become a common platform for industry representation, promotion and compliance to pertinent local and international standards, deemed necessary to secure markets.

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