Category: Featured Article(July -August 2015)

There is a chance that even as you read this third rate column I’m facing a commission of enquiry investigating my character for the last six months. The commission most likely to be chaired by my father in-law with his first born, as the lead counsel will have the mandate to probe, investigate and recommend to the whole chain of Eve’s descendants if I’m a man enough to take care of their daughter.

As I fix these words to make some sense, the hosts of divorcees are knocking my door. This has nothing to do with being incapacitated to perform my duties as a husband but it is purely malice from the enemies of my family developments. But it can all be blamed on IFTEX, the self-proclaimed international exhibition. It all started when they requested the first lady to open the 4th show in Kenya.

She caused all this because I had informed Officerless, the Eve’s descendant I swore in front of a mammoth crowd that I will never look left, right or backward when am walking with her till death does us apart that all roses grown in Kenya are for export. I had convinced her that the only time Kenyans are allowed to buy roses is during valentine and funerals.

By Oscar Shilliebo

Mealybugs in Kenya were original pests that attacked the coffee plants in the eighties but as the flower and rose growing industry begun to thrive, the pests found a new host and were transferred through to roses from the coffee bushes through coffee stakes that were used to hold the rose beds together and as well through grafted roses.

Before the onset of IPM and use of biological methods to manage especially the red spider mites in roses, Mealybugs were not a major pest in rose growing. The reason being that most Miticides used to manage the spider mites were also controlling the mealy bugs and other pests on the rose crop. But as the pest management practices shifted more towards IPM and biological control especially for the spider mites which use to account for more than 40% of the total chemical cost the attentions then shifted and other pests begun to be of importance. One such pest is the Mealy bug.

K enya’s pepper exports to the European Union (EU) risk a ban following the emergence of a new and lethal pest that has wrecked havoc on the crop in different parts of the country.

Farmers in pepper growing areas of central Kenya, Naivasha, Athi River, Kitengela and Isinya have been placed on high alert following the outbreak of the pest called False Codling Moth (FCM).

Scientists said no pesticide has been identified to deal with the new threat which has already seen capsicum produce from Uganda banned from the EU market.

By S.K. Bandyoa Padhay- ( Mr. Barnejee )

Flower production costs in Kenya have increased significantly due to outbreak of disease like downy mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis and since this has become a limiting factor for production, it has become a concern for the investor.

Most growers use high amount of chemicals to control the disease, unaware of the fact that a timely and balanced mineral nutrition can prevent the disease as this enables the plants to develop the resistance against the disease, but in reality most growers resort to use of high level of chemicals which not only raises concern on environment and safety but also leaves economical consequences as well.

Essential plant nutrients in proper combination, concentration and ratio depending on the media type and climatic condition make the plants healthy and tolerant or resistant to disease where as the deficiency of them make the plants susceptible to diseases.

Helping reconstruct a street boy emerging from the tough life in the Kenyan streets is not about the talk, it’s about the walk. It’s not about the what, it’s about the how. And it’s never about the will, it’s about the will. But how can you get it right if you are on the wrong part of the world? Naivasha Horticultural Fair is doing it again this year. Their generous contribution in many areas has helped enormously. They have involved themselves in plentiful charitable projects which are of great help to the community at large.

One of the greatest secrets of the rich and mighty is giving to the needy part of what they profit. This not only goes in tandem with the saying that “For every action, there must be some reaction” but also unleashes some power that the smartest of all investors in the world has never been able to explain. This could not necessarily be a reason the hortifair but the greater need for the horticultural growers and exporters to look at the problems of the local people with a human eye.

The corporate involvement in development in this regard has been left a-new concept based on the traditional belief that it is only the government that is mandated with the responsibility of initiating development. NH Fair has in this regard created a great possibility in a short time since it takes the government quite a while to study the feasibility of any needed project before approving and hence implementing it.

John Giles, a market research consultant and the divisional director at Promar International, a leading UK-based agri food supply chain consulting firm, gives a sneak peek about emerging future sources of supply for UK buyers

Your presentation at LPS15 focus on a market analysis of increasingly important potential sources of supply. It include Ethiopia among others. Why Ethiopia in particular?

John Giles (JG): The idea is to present something different. We all know probably quite a bit about the likes of Chile, Turkey, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt as suppliers. I want to move away from the familiar suspects and look at lesser-known countries around the world as an educational guide.

Ethiopia, is deliberately-chosen country of which people will have some sense, but probably won’t know a great deal, yet it is becoming more influential and important. It can produce a wide range of produce – a combination of fruits and vegetables – it is known for some products and some participation in international markets.

Expectations filled the air as one of the biggest chemical companies in the world, Arysta LifeScience, launched a fungicide for the control of Powdery mildew and botrytis and an insecticide for the control of all major insects mainly aphids, thrips, whiteflies, mealy bugs and hoppers and a miticide.

Time almost audio recorded voice of Mr.Richard Gitonga, the Regulatory and Development Manager-East Africa asked, Are you concerned by the ever increasing threat of resistance build up on fungicides and insecticides? Are you concerned of scotching flowers and leaving residues? Are you concerned of WHO class of your choice of product? Do you want to achieve your goals of IPM farming? Each of these questions received a resounding “yes” from the growers in attendance. “Today I stand in front of you to offer you solutions, Fungaflor, Teppeki and Kanemite”, he said

Corporations often need to exhibit at simultaneous trade shows in different localities and for different reasons. They may even have two trade show exhibits in the same city at the same time. Going one step further, a company may even have two separate trade show exhibits at the same trade show. Flower suppliers are an example of a companies exhibiting at two trade shows. Why does this happen?

Quite simply, each trade show appearance has a different objective. One trade show exhibit concentrate on new lead generation, while the other trade show display’s focus on new product launches. Even though these trade shows differ, message needed should be consistent in presenting their corporate brand. Trade show visitors may have a different agenda for attending each trade show, but the corporate message must remain consistent and easily identified with the corporate DNA.

Every aspect of trade show exhibit presence also must match up with company promotional materials, advertising, public relations, online marketing, website and direct mail. Companies lose identity when they dilute their image with mixed messages. Marketing pros say the golden rule is to stay true to your corporate message, reinforce the brand, and let everything else follow suit.

The fourth edition of the Kenyan based flower exhibition IFTEX ended last with good results for all participating companies. Although less international flower buyers attended the show, the quality of visitors was high resulting in a good overall outcome. Overall, 223 exhibiting companies and 2,778 participants attended the three day fair that was held in the Oshwal Center in Westlands, Nairobi.

The expo was opened by Kenya’s First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta. In her speech while opening the expo she said,“I wish to reassure all the consumers of our highly acclaimed flowers that the country continuously strives for responsible and safe production of cut flowers. We also strive to protect and conserve the natural environment and promote the welfare of all farm staff for sustainability”.

Rhodos takes center-stage at IFTEX 2015

In the Best Flowers Quality Awards for Breeders under the category of Roses, the Platinum Award was clinched by De Ruiter East Africa Ltd with the standard rose “Rhodos”. De Ruiter East Africa’s red rose Rhodos, took center-stage during this year’s IFTEX with elaborate displays and much attention from show visitors. Rhodos is a premium rose with a clean red hue and good shape. The rose enjoys significant market presence and is currently regarded as one of the best reds out of Africa. Rhodos has an average stem lenght of 80cm and above, and a vaselife of up to 15 days. It grows a headsize of average 5cm at 1700 altitude.