2022 was a very challenging year for the Kenyan floral industry . The global inflation , exchange rate , warfare in Russia , and high input and freight costs are putting a mickle of pressure on the sector . “ But we did not stop exporting . We are hanging in there and have high Leslie Townes Hope for 2023 ” , explains Clement Tulezi , CEO of Kenya Flower Council .
Clement Tulezi , Prisca Mwangi and Lina Jamwa at the IFTF 2022 .
The challenge of 2022Without make the prescribed export statistics yet , Tulezi can already say that 2022 has been a yr that generated a lower value compared to 2021 . “ 2021 was a much better yr with good demand and good prices . ” agree to Tulezi , there are several factors that made 2022 such a challenging twelvemonth . “ First of all , the demand has been low . There is global inflation , so when the great unwashed need to prefer where to spend their money on . This has create uncertainty on demand , and in crook , the prices have been driven downwards . And the Russian marketplace , for example , has been a produce market , but since the warfare and the EU sanctions , exports from Kenya to this country ( which normally went via Europe ) has fare to a standstill . to boot , grower had to deal with higher costs . The availability of fertilizers and packaging material was scarce , resulting in high prices . This is on top of the local inflation . And still , the shipment costs are high , still , almost double liken to pre - covid clock time . ”
Growers dealing with itIn order of magnitude to hold up , growers are make out cost and are cutting costs and find ways to become more effective so that the overhead cost are not eating their profits margins too much , Tulezi explains . Bottom - line , the manufacture is struggling , and the gamey freight pace are compound the situation .
Higher hopes for 2023For 2023 , hopes are higher . “ This year , we ’ve control that the monetary value of fertilizers and packaging stuff has gone down marginally . On top of that , due to the high get-up-and-go prices in Europe , we ’ve realize that the volume from European growers decrease a bit , in turn increasing the need for Kenyan products – we are slowly becoming a source of many other kinds of efflorescence than roses . And when global inflation stabilizes , demand could go up a number . Last but not least , the new government seems to be more centripetal to the sector and seems to be willing to support it . After all , the flower industry is a huge sector for the Kenyan economy with huge employment for the Kenyan population . ”
Efforts KFCKenya Flower Council is doing its uttermost serious to support the industry and find ways to lower costs for agriculturalist . “ We are , for example , talking with the government about boosting the industry by lowering levies that cultivator pay and remotion of some taxation on essential goods and services for our sub - sphere . I believe there is a Brobdingnagian potential to produce more change in Kenya occasioned by optimum climatic conditions and ecstasy connectivity . And for ship more flowers for the coming vacation – Valentine ’s Day and Mother ’s Day – we are asking the government to tolerate more foreign air hose because Kenya Airways does not have extra capacity to ship products when demand increases . With more operators , there will be more space , and Price are expected to go down . ” Additionally , Tulezi and his squad are always front to find unexampled markets and expand in these market , like the US , China , and Türkiye . But they are also investigating the options of shipping flowers over ocean . ( In June , during theIFTEXin Nairobi , another Flower by the Sea Conference will be organized )
For more information : Kenya Flower Council[email protected]kenyaflowercouncil.org
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
