Page 8 - LUA March-April 2025

COVER STORY

and forecasting between exporters and
airlines to ensure cargo space availability
during peak seasons.
Ogambi emphasised the need for long-
term solutions that go beyond temporary
adjustments. “If we don’t create a reliable
and predictable cargo system, we will
always be at the mercy of external market
forces,” he warned.
Another one of the most pressing
concerns for fresh produce exporters in the
region is the impact of the Red Sea crisis
on shipping routes. The ongoing conflict
has forced vessels to reroute around the
Cape of Good Hope, extending transit
times by up to 20 additional days.

SHIPPING AS A RISKY
ALTERNATIVE
“For products like avocados, which already
have a limited shelf life, this additional
time at sea increases the risk of quality
deterioration,” explains Ngenga.
The situation is particularly difficult for
exporters relying on sea freight, which is
expected to handle 50 percent of Kenya’s
fresh produce exports by 2030. To mitigate
losses, exporters are seeking technological
solutions that enhance packaging and particularly air and road networks — has
improve temperature control during seen little progress.
prolonged transit. However, such innovations
require significant investment, which many COLD CHAIN BOTTLENECK
smaller exporters struggle to afford. For perishables like flowers and fresh
Mombasa Port remains the primary produce, maintaining quality from
gateway for trade in East Africa, serving farm to market is paramount. However,
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South infrastructure remains underdeveloped
Sudan, and the Democratic Republic across Africa, leading to high post-harvest
of Congo (DRC). However, with port losses and increased operational costs.
throughput increasing by 14.5 percent from We had the product, “One key challenge would be the cold
2023 to 2024, the port’s capacity is struggling we had buyers, but we chain, which is a challenge in a lot of the
to keep up. “We need to ensure that we have had no way to move it. countries,” said Ben Barka, emphasising
capacity before demand,” said Ogambi. the need for targeted interventions to
Despite recent expansions and improved This kind of disruption strengthen refrigerated storage and
transhipment volumes, inefficiencies leads to waste and transport networks.
persist due to outdated equipment and financial losses. Despite Kenya’s position as a major
slow cargo handling. To address this, the exporter of fresh produce, cold chain
SCEA is advocating for port expansion RAPHAEL KIPTIS infrastructure at the farm level remains
projects. With 32 percent of Mombasa’s SIAN ROSES inadequate—especially for smallholder
cargo destined for neighbouring countries, farmers. “Our biggest challenge is at the
improving efficiency is not just a national He also emphasised the importance of production areas, where smallholders lack
concern but a regional priority. regional collaboration with Uganda and pre-cooling and storage facilities,”
Ojepat also stressed that operational Rwanda to consolidate cargo volumes and said Ojepat.
efficiency remains a challenge in attract larger shipping vessels to Mombasa. While large farms have their own cold
Mombasa Port. “The frequency of vessels According to Ben Barka, “Infrastructure storage facilities, small-scale farmers
needs to improve. If we could have is a significant barrier to the free flow of must rely on aggregation centres to keep
multiple departures per week instead of goods and services across the continent.” produce fresh before transportation.
just one, it would significantly reduce While strides have been made in other However, the high cost of energy and
delays,” he explained. sectors, transport infrastructure — limited access to green energy solutions

6 LUA MARCH - APRIL 2025