FEB-MARCH 2013 ISSUE Final.ai - Hortinews.co.ke

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Oserian Development Company presented red roses to about 1,500 female employees of its staff in their farm to celebrate this year Valentine’s Day. Addressing the workers, Ludovick Kezzah the Head of Division Human Resource at Oserian told the employees flowers should symbolize peace and love. “This being an election period, it’s important we stay peaceful and should not forget that after March 4, we need our jobs and country. We should vote and stay peaceful,” he advised them. Red Lands Roses: 15 years on 8 Kenya Flower Industry National Compliance Mechanism established 42 The Kenya bean fighting for survival 18/36 In search of a national flower for Kenya 16 Rose flower grafting 52 Boosting incomes among arabicum cut-flower growers through produce marketing organization (PMO) 50 4 Luna Sensation: the new warrior against Powdery Mildew 28 HORTICULTURAL NEWS I FEB / MAR 2013 21
Editorial EDITORIAL BOARD Arim Ogolla - USAID-KAVES Catherine Riungu -HortiNews Jane Ngige - KFC Lusike Wasilwa - KARI Stephen Mbithi - FPEAK MANAG ING EDITOR Catherine Riungu CONSULTING EDITOR Isaac Mwangi STAFF WRITER Ann Ndung’u CONTRIBUTORS George Kariuki - Greenlife Nelson Maina - Elgon Kenya Paul Orengo - KFIE Moses Nyongesa - KARI Judith Oyoo - KARI MARKETING MANAG ER Leonard Sichemo OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Elijah Maina PHOTOG RAPHY Allan Muturi DESIG N Samuel Irungu Horticultural News is published six times a year by Karuri Ventures Ltd and circulated to personnel in the horticultural industry, foreign missions and Kenya embassies abroad, extension officers in the Ministry of Agriculture, research officers and suppliers of agricultural inputs and services. Estimates are that the cost of the tests, the loss of produce on the queue, failure to find a buyer by farmers and a whole lot of spill over reactions have so far seen the horticulture sector post a 25 per cent dip in export earnings. Just how did we get here The French bean or the Kenya bean as the vegetable is known locally and abroad, respectively, is the largest smallholder export crop in Kenya. Those in the know would understand why stakeholders are spending sleepless nights as they seek solutions to what has become a nightmare in terms of getting the produce on supermarket shelves in the EU. When Hortinews knocked on the door of the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service managing director Dr James Onsando, early February for an update, the man was grappling with a seemingly intractable problem. Four exporters had just been put on notice after their produce was found with residues that the country has been assuring international markets were being eliminated. What compounded the problem, he said, was that he, together with members of the Competent Authority that is working round-the-clock to ensure that the Kenya bean gets a clean bill of health, was scheduled to present a case to the EU to the effect that “we were on course.” Unfortunately, those four positives meant that this position would not be credible, and the country remains on alert. The details of this scenario are unveiled in the inside pages of this edition. That said, and without pointing fingers, we dare ask: Just how did we get here No answers to this question, not even the frantic efforts currently on the ground, can make up for the insurmountable losses incurred along the value chain over the past six months since Kenya’s produce started being subjected to rigorous tests in the EU. Estimates are that the cost of the tests, the loss of produce on the queue, failure to find a buyer by farmers and a whole lot of spill-over reactions have so far seen the horticulture sector post a 25 per cent dip in export earnings. A manager with one of the big exporters termed the situation a nightmare and, on the verge of breaking down, described this as the most stressful time to be an exporter – almost a punishment, considering what one has to go through to get clearance. Yet another one said it was a catastrophe, the pain in his voice hardly concealing the emphasis. Farmers have borne the brunt of what emerges to be mismanagement of a sector by enforcing prescribed modes of operation. Produce poaching by briefcase exporters has been largely blamed for the mess as it discourages established players from investing in farmer support programmes. While we laud the concerted efforts on the ground at the moment to ensure the situation gets back to normal, it is important to always remember that the millions lost in this mess will never be recovered, and take advantage of the situation to finally clean up the sector, not just for French beans but for other products as well so as to avoid a recurrence of what has obviously cost Kenya its envied position as the supplier of choice. The Kenya Flower Council, too, is doing its bit for the flower industry by implementing the National Compliance Mechanism, which will ensure that all exporters obtain licences after showing proof of practising responsible growing practices. The idea arose out of the desire to overcome years of negative publicity occasioned by a few wayward exporters whose irresponsible operations negatively affected all other players in the sector. Communications Brochures Magazines HORTICULTURAL NEWS I FEB / MAR 2013 5
Page 1: NO. 26 FEB- MARCH 2013 Ksh 300, $5
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