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Market Opportunities for African Agriculture - International Food ...

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operating costs, not only with the Netherlands but also with Kenya, Zambia, and<br />

Zimbabwe (Table 11). But, the major problems SSA countries are facing in this regard<br />

are poor infrastructure, lack of cold chain transport and storage facilities, limited air<br />

freight capacity, and high transport costs.<br />

Table 11—Comparison of capital and operating costs of floriculture between<br />

Uganda and other competing countries<br />

Capital costs (US$ per sq. m.) Operating costs (US$ per sq. m.)<br />

Uganda 27.68 22.68-28.12<br />

Kenya 29.56 39.93<br />

Zambia 29.64 30.50<br />

Zimbabwe 36.64 30.50<br />

The Netherlands 108.50 50.70<br />

Source: Dijkstra (2001)<br />

The Kenyan cut flower experience offers several lessons <strong>for</strong> emerging market<br />

policy makers and investors, as well as other international stakeholders. First and most<br />

importantly, the cut flower industry is quite dynamic and cannot be led by public<br />

initiatives and government interventions. The primary roles of government should be<br />

facilitative. Second, the development of a competitive and sustainable cut flower industry<br />

requires collective actions in a number of areas by the main industry stakeholders, such<br />

as floricultural and supply chain training, developing environmental standards, packaging<br />

material standardization, cold chain facility investment, market in<strong>for</strong>mation collection<br />

and dissemination, and floricultural research and advisory services. Third, there is a need<br />

<strong>for</strong> further clarification and harmonization of environmental standards and regulations<br />

and effective communication of guidelines to growers and exporters. A joint publicprivate<br />

initiative <strong>for</strong> technical support to help comply with such guidelines and<br />

regulations may be necessary.<br />

28

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