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.
The Kenya Flower Council held a conference themed: Floriculture: Caring for People and Nature on 6th June 2017, at Mayfair Hotel in Nairobi. The meeting brought together players in the flower industry and stakeholders from government agencies and the civil society, both local and international. The conference was called to address the challenges in the industry and to review current interventions that could contribute to sustainability in the flower industry. It looked at the aspirations of sustainability at both the global and local level, at the guidelines that the industry has adopted the company standards in place and at initiatives that the industry has developed in partnership with other stakeholders. The forum came up with recommendations to that members could adopt to help them run their businesses successfully.
Tell us about Richard Fox 
In spite of great advances in insect-pest control strategies, thrips still remains to be one of the most challenging pests to control across the world. Dr Arturo Golderacena of Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium discussed this issue during a two-day seminar organised for flowers and vegetable growers by Dudutech and Dow Agrosciences. The combined approach by One of the Leading global Insecticide Giants and a globally respected Biological Solutions Innovator proved no one can walk alone.
Dick Van Raamsdonk is the Brain Child of IFTEX and makes a big contribution to Kenya’s flower sector. Growers around the world open their farm gates for him. Buyers around the world pack their briefcases to answer his call. Mr. Masila Kanyingi has been covering him for the last five years and below is a tete-a-tete from different interviews and other researched pieces.
By Joseph Muita