Demand for Kenya’s flowers has recovered to almost 85 percent according to the Kenya Flowers Council. Kenya Flower Council CEO Clement Tulezi attributes the rise in demand to the reopening in European markets. He expects the flower industry to fully recover by 2021.
In June, Kenya’s horticulture industry was estimated to be losing $1 million per day.
Reuters reports that Europe accounts for almost 70 per cent of Kenya’s cut-flower exports. The restrictions on international flights in March saw Kenyan flower exports to key markets fall drastically. The situation deteriorated further in April and May as European markets closed borders and enforced social gathering restrictions.
Horticulture exports earning increased 11 percent between January and May 2020 to KSh 72 billion compared to KSh65 billion for the same period last year. Despite the increase in earnings, the volumes of the produce declined by 12% compared to the previous season.
KNBS data shows that the volume of cut flowers exported decreased from 49,163 metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2019 to 42,639 metric tonnes in Q1 2020. Flower exports to the Netherlands decreased while exports to the United Kingdom increased.
Horticulture sector earnings are the third-largest contributors of foreign exchange in Kenya, after diaspora remittances and income from tourism.
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