Page 11 - STAT November 2022 for Magzter

costs have been steadily rising as have
input costs which are other major pain
points for growers and exporters.

AN UNBROKEN COLD CHAIN
IS PARAMOUNT
Despite the vibrant trade, there are
lacunae when it comes to an unbroken
cold chain, claim flower producers.
As per Swissport, the recent
expansion and facelift of the cold
room facility at the Julius Nyerere
International Airport in Dar es Salaam
city of Tanzania has increased space
for storage of perishables, product
segregation, and cool chain maintenance.
Whereas in Ghana Swissport staff have
been recently supplied with Hand Held
Terminals (HHT) that allow instant data
upload and flow between cargo systems.
In Nairobi, Swissport is reportedly
in the process of expanding the cold-
room infrastructure to handle more
perishable cargo. The company is creating
a temperature-controlled fast lane (within
the cold-room infrastructure) to be able
to enhance the cool chain capabilities of
the Swissport facility. This project will also
include the installation of a vacuum cooler,
which will be used to further reduce the
temperatures of flower shipments before
Currently there is already a strong Rai added, “Five to six growers are they are loaded onto the aircraft.
link but to further improve combining our shipments and have sent Many of these efforts are part of
we believe more direct several ‘sample shipments’ but the results Swissport’s ‘Flower Corridor’ initiative that
flights are key. So now were not very exciting. A lot of logistics aims to connect the flower hub of NBO
is the time to include all issues remain as the cool chain must with the European hubs of Amsterdam,
stakeholders for a farm be perfect and maintaining timelines is Brussels, and Liège. The initiative has
to plate approach, as another challenge.” created a highly efficient and secure
this will be necessary to supply chain for fresh-cut flowers from the
unlock the full potential.” TAPPING NEWER MARKETS farms to the end customers by ensuring
Despite strong demand from European maximum handling efficiency, security,
FLOWER markets, the flower industry and the and prolonged shelf life for retailers.
LOGISTICS TAKES governments are looking to tap non- Dirk Goovaerts, Head of Continental
THE SEA ROUTE European markets like the Middle East, Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Global
Covid-19 exposed the Asia, and Africa. Cargo Chair at Swissport International
limitations of air transport after Earlier this February, Kenya began told the publication, “Africa plays a vital
flights were grounded leading to exploring direct linkages to the United role in exporting perishables such as
a drastic cut in air cargo capacity. Arab Emirates and other five Gulf flowers, fruit and vegetables, and meat.
With air freight prices on a Cooperation Council (GCC) member Our local presence in Ghana, Tanzania,
high, flower exports in Kenya nations in a bid to diversify its exports Kenya, and South Africa and our state-of-
have been slowly but steadily as just one percent of cut flowers goes the-art air cargo facilities allow Swissport
taking the sea route. Rail is also into GCC. Bilateral talks to remove tariff to provide excellent services to our clients
used as flowers are transported in constraints, figure out direct flights and and partners looking for an effective and
refrigerated railway containers to the cold chain facilities and iron out logistics efficient cool chain solution.”
Port of Mombasa for onward export roadblocks were done.
to Europe. However cold chain and While most growers swear by the PERISHABLES: FROM FARM
transportation modes still need to be labour which is available in plenty in TO PLATES
developed, aver flower growers. Kenya and East African nations, labour While cold chain facilities have been a

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