Ornamentals are high value and delicate crops which growth requires a technical approach to ensure its optimal development. They need very specific and controlled conditions
Author: admin
Horticulture is a significant ‘manufacturing’ industry. But where would horticulture be without knowledge exchange? This rhetorical question is the starting point for the Naivasha Horticultural Fair, which was initiated fifteen years ago. The knowledge from these exchanges has been of help to many businesses.
Horti Fair is one of the biggest regional trade fairs for Technology, Innovation and Inspiration in Horticulture. Horti Fair starts where the chain starts: plant breeding, greenhouse technology and cultivation technique. In addition, the Horti Fair showcases the solutions that horticulture offers for global challenges relating to water, food, clean energy and well-being.
“Naivasha Horticultural Fair is an ideal platform for us to directly reach the regions farming industry with all its top growers and decision makers in
Kenya Fights to Wrestle Back EU MarketHorticultural exports are set for an additional standard from next month in a new development by the country to
A New Flight to UKA new flight from Kenya bringing fresh vegetables and flowers to major UK suppliers has landed at Doncaster Sheffield Airport. A
Frank Ammerlaan: ‘ Why did you decide to go to Ethiopia? “After we’d completed our studies in Business Administration and Plant Sciences respectively, my brother
A code of practice is a set of written rules which explains how people working in a particular profession/ sector should behave. Kenya has developed the KS1758 Code of Practice for Horticulture Industry: Part 1 deals with Floriculture, and Part 2 deals with Fruits and Vegetables, in line with international standards.
Recently, the fresh produce exporters of Kenya (FPEAK) held a successful Industry which attracted many stakeholders, including growers, suppliers, stakeholders, government agencies, and development agencies, among others. Speaking uring the conference Mr. Andrew Edewa of Compliance Kenya Ltd. took participants through the soon to be mandatory for exporters and producers to comply with KS1758 as a basic standard.
But then, why do organizations, industries and professions come up with the codes of conduct and practice? Are they really necessary?
Well, the horticulture industry in Kenya in conjunction with the government too, have developed their own code of practice to guide the players in the industry.
Osmosis is the passing of a liquid through a membrane from a lesser concentration to a greater concentration. Eventually, both liquids would be of equal concentrations. Figure 1, page 48, demonstrates how this reaction takes place. A good example of osmosis is how plants uptake water.
Reverse osmosis (RO) puts pressure on the greater concentrated liquid and forces it through the membrane to the lesser-concentrated liquid, hence the term, reverse osmosis. The membrane traps particles and impurities down to 0.0009 micron, and the effluent or permeate water is very clean and free from impurities. Figure 1 demonstrates how this works. So at its most basic level, reverse osmosis filters impurities from a liquid, namely water.
By starting with water that is free from impurities and minerals, RO water can help make growing more calculable, since the water quality is constant. Nutrients can be better controlled without having to worry about what is in the water source at the beginning of the irrigation process. Contaminants in the water source, such as iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium and chlorine, can react with the nutrients and cause problems with fertilizer mix.
Sylvie Mamias from Union Fleurs told the conference that her organization is involved in lobbying and advocacy on behalf of flower exporters, especially into the
Mr. Charles Ongwae from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) informed the conference that the role of Kenya Bureau of Standards is to develop standards in commerce and industry and in that regard; KEBS has worked with Kenya Flower Council (KFC), Fresh Producer Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) and other key stakeholders to revise KS1758. He encouraged all producers to implement standards to help them in planning, to improve their operational efficiencies and for cutting down costs. He said KEBS works with flower producers to protect the consumer from exposure to certain chemicals which might be dangerous to their health. He encouraged the producers to embrace KS1758 in order to become more effective and efficient in their businesses.
Mr. James Wahome from the Kenya Plant and Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) told the conference that all standards applied in the country are found in Cap 319 of the Agricultural Export Act of the Kenyan Laws. He reminded participants that different countries have different laws that govern the import of goods into their countries. He urged the sector players to always consult with KEPHIS in order to keep abreast with the standards and the requirements that are necessary. He spoke of challenges that exporters are likely to encounter like interceptions in the international market, and inconsistencies in rules which keep changing, especially in the EU market. He said that market access is a dynamic function that also keeps changing with changes in technology.