Category: Featured Past Articles

Industry Briefs Primarosa Moves operations to its Nyahururu firmAccording to the company’s Chief Executive, Virag Joshi, the move has been influenced by the recent drought

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.

What Are Thrips
Thrips (order Thysanoptera) are one of the most widespread, economically damaging and difficult pests to control worldwide. They are one of the smallest known winged insects and are named after their fringed/eyelash like wings. They cause damage to plants by piercing the cells of surface tissues and feeding on the sap. This causes the cells to die leaving unsightly sunken white blotches on leaf surfaces. Leaves may also be deformed and blossoms damaged by feeding in flower buds or on surface new vegetative growth. Thrips also transmit deadly viruses like Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) that can devastate numerous crop varieties.

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.

Tell us a little about yourself
Dick van Raamsdonk (59 years) graduated from Eindhoven University of Applied Sciences, after which he studied Economics at the University of Amsterdam. After that, he briefly worked for the World Flower Trade Center in Leiden. A little later, he started his own business.

Tell us about your Family
I have a young family as well of three young children, who keep me up at night on a regular basis.

What does your job entail
Established in 1984, HPP Exhibitions has already 33 years of experience in organizing trade exhibitions all over the world. It has organized more than 180 exhibitions in 35 countries.

Ornamental crop production is a specialized business centred on the beauty of flowers and attention to detail to deliver perfect results. Syngenta has reinforced its

By Joseph Muita

Every flower stem counts hence successful farmers are smart to maximize yields through crop protection. Do you?

Downy Mildew is one of the major fungal challenges to the floriculture industry whose control budget is about 20% of the total pesticide value. It occurs rapidly and the effect on the quality of roses is irreversible and the loss is irreparable.

Once it takes hold, it will defoliate a plant very rapidly. While total defoliation does not immediately kill a plant as would, say, an accidental application of an herbicide, its loss of photosynthesizing ability stresses and weakens the plant to a degree that it becomes totally unproductive, a situation from which it may never recover. Downy is extremely contagious and will spread throughout your rose garden quickly if left untreated, laying waste to all the plants within a very short time.

Botrytis is also an important disease commonly known as Grey Mold which changes during its life cycle from being saprophytic to parasitic and acknowledged for considerably reducing marketable quality of roses. Botrytis has high potential of developing resistance as a result of indecorous usage of pesticides.

KLM, Royal FloraHolland, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol are reinforcing the air bridge between Kenya and the Netherlands, joining forces to ensure that the Aalsmeer-Schiphol region

For the sixth year in a row, Kenya is set to host the International Flower Trade Expo (IFTEX), slated for June 7-9 at the Oshwal Centre, Parklands, Nairobi.

Currently, IFTEX is at par with other important flower exhibitions organized by HPP which include World Floral Expo (USA), Agriflor (Quito, Ecuador), and the International Floriculture Trade Fair (Vijfhuizen, Holland), all that are key activities in the flower industry calendar. Since IFTEX opened its doors here in 2012, there has been a steady pattern of target visitors. Kenya’s flowers are a sensation in the US going by the interest the Kenya pavilion attracted during the World Floral Expo in Las Vegas (US) held early this year. This year’s show comes amidst renewed focus in the country following the classification of JKIA to Category A status enabling direct flights to the US from Nairobi. The two make US the main target this year.

It has been costly and lengthy to ship the country’s flowers to the world’s biggest market after the EU. “Owing to the availability of the flights, we expect more American buyers in Nairobi next month going by confirmed visits and increasing inquiries”, says Dick Van Raamsdonk. Nobody can deny the fact that in this year’s show the catchphrase will be, “Buyers from America’’.

Bellissima’s exclusive assortment of roses have large flower-heads of average 6cm and long sturdy stems of average 80cm – 100cm.

Mt Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak, forms an imposing background while majestically staring down at the idyllic expanse of Timau near Nanyuki in Kenya. It is amidst this picturesque setting that Chui Farm, the newest venture by AAA Growers is located. Chui Farm produces some of the most exclusive and exceptional Kenyan roses under the brand name Bellissima; which fittingly translates to “Gorgeous Lady” in Italian.

Bellisssima premium Kenyan roses are unpacked and sold through auction in Europe by Flower Optimal Connection and direct sales to other parts of the world. Flower Optimal has many years experience offering strategic solutions and efficient unpacking services to growers from Kenya, Ethiopia, Israel and other countries. The farm currently has 20 hectares under production with a further 10 hectare expansion under development and projected to be operational before the close of 2017.