Bʏ Vɪᴄᴛᴏʀ Oᴋᴇʏᴏ,
When the jets touch down in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport this June, it is not diplomats but flower buyers and other stakeholders in the floriculture industry worldwide coming in for the 12th edition of the International Flower Trade Expo.
“We are expecting 200+ exhibitors, and there is already a 20% increase in pre-registered buyers as compared to the previous year,” said Dick van Raamsdonk CEO HPP International Exhibitions, the organizers of the exhibition, during a presser at a Nairobi hotel.
The first edition of IFTEX was held in 2012, with a break for two years during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Twelve years ago, IFTEX began as a bold vision, an ambition to create a global marketplace here in Nairobi, and today, that vision is a thriving reality,” says Catherine Mukoko, Chief Operations Officer, Kenya Flower Council.
The expo is a trade fair for the international fresh flower industry in Kenya, bringing together flower growers, exporters, breeders, input suppliers, logistics partners, alongside hundreds of international buyers and stakeholders from more than 30 countries, and fostering exchange of ideas.
Kenya is currently the fourth largest exporter of cut flowers globally and the number one exporter to Europe.
“We, as a country, remain a trusted source of quality roses… we command at least 38% of all the roses that are exported to the EU,” says Dr. Isaac Macharia, General Manager for Phytosanitary Services at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS).
What Pulls Buyers to Kenya?
This year’s expo is expecting participation of almost 200 exhibiting Kenyan and international companies. And that’s an all-time high number of exhibitors.
And according to Mr. van Raamsdonk, “Partly it is because there’s an increase in growers that exhibit for the first time, existing growers. But also, some new growers have only been established recently.”
Christine Chesaro of the Horticultural Crops Directorate highlights the presence of more Kenyan farmers exhibiting their produce as evidence of the sector’s robust growth.
Mr. van Raamsdonk says more farms are getting into the country to produce flowers. “And that’s in contrast with the other important flower-producing countries, where they go down in number.”
“We have seen growth in the industry, and growth in the confidence of people trying to invest more into the industry,” says Dr. Macharia.
He further emphasizes that the international community can trust that they will get the best quality flowers. This is because Kenya has put in place mechanisms to ensure that flowers are checked from production to the point of exit, through to the market.
“We are glad that following our adoption of the systems approach, which was a requirement of the European Union regulation, we have registered farmers, and we’ve been given the green light to continue exporting to the European Union,” says Miss Chesaro.
A system approach is a combination of methods or measures that are meant to prevent pests, encompassing the quality of production places, pest management, quality control, and inspection at the point of exit.
“We have also ensured that we have mechanisms to support the growers, we issue documentation, and have developed an online certification system. we are rolling out what the e-phyto is, which is a paperless system,” says Dr. Macharia.
He further adds that there are emerging markets in Russia, Japan, China, Australia, and the United States.
What This Means for Kenya
Kenya is currently the fourth largest exporter of cut flowers globally, and the number one exporter to the European Market… “and our flowers grace homes, offices, weddings, and ceremonies worldwide,” says Miss Mukoko.
She adds that beyond the blooms lies an industry that supplies, sustains over 200,000 direct jobs, touches the lives of over 4 million Kenyans, and significantly contributes to our economy and the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
And according to Mr. van Raamsdonk, with more growers in the industry, there’s more product to offer. “With more buyers, there will be more sales, leading to more jobs and reconfirming the importance of the sector for the economy of Kenya.”
“We are looking at trade promotion, we are looking at an increase in our produce… and especially with the green light to continue our exports to Europe, we can only expect an increase in our export of flowers,” says Miss Chesaro.
She adds that the government is seeking to address the freight capacity plaguing the industry.
“There is a study committee, a national horticulture study committee, that has been tasked to look into the challenges facing the horticulture sector in general and the flower sector in particular.”
Emphasizing KFC’s mission to promote a globally competitive, sustainable, and inclusive floriculture industry, Miss Catherine says the council will showcase their collaboration with government, development partners, and private sector players as they chart a collective path in the upcoming IFTEX event.