Page 12 - STAT November 2022 for Magzter

COVER STORY

key driver for the flower industry in many
African nations, especially in Kenya and
Ethiopia, it has also laid the foundation for
the perishables sector that includes fruits
and vegetables.
Be it meat, seafood, or fruits and
vegetables from Kenya, Tanzania, South
Africa, Uganda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe,
Zambia, and Egypt, perishables make their
way into plates across the globe including
the Middle East, Far East, the EU, and the
UK. With 60% of its people engaged in Maintaining cold chain efficacy is
agriculture and related industries and with Major players, paramount to getting the best price
an export worth of $52 billion for food entrepreneurs, for fresh produce manufacturers and
exports, Africa has the potential to be the and the exporters and this is where most
world’s breadbasket. entrepreneurs believe that there is ample
The European Union accounts for government room for improvement.
getting the largest portion of Kenyan need to establish Lucy Njeri Kuria, Managing Director at
horticultural exports with 45% comprising Saipei Foods in Kenya, who exports fresh
cut flowers, French beans, snow peas, and consolidation fruits and vegetables to Spain, Netherlands,
other Asian vegetables. In a bid to diversify and storage France, Turkey, Dubai, Hongkong, and
its exports, Kenya has held bilateral talks centers around Malaysia by sea, says air freight has
with gulf nations this year and is keen to become very expensive post-Covid.
export fruits, spices, and plants as well the existing She says, “Yield was good this year and
apart from flowers to eliminate trade production areas. volumes have returned. Next year more yield
barriers and logistical logjams. is anticipated because of newer orchards. We
Patrice Ngenga, Technical & Standards This would ensure majorly export avocados and the demand
Officer at the Fresh Produce Exporters that the produce is good. China's opening up will definitely
Association of Kenya (FPEAK) which increase demand for Kenyan avocados.
has 210 members, told the publication, is kept in the cold Logistics costs remain very high in Kenya.
“Kenya’s major market destination is EU, chain as soon as it Perhaps the inland logistics for avocados
UK, UAE, Australia, China, and South is harvested. can be done via train and not road. The
Africa. Most of the fruits and flowers government can invest in plug-in points on
are shipped through air freight with PATRICE NGENGA the train to maintain the cold chain.”
fruits mainly going through sea freight. FRESH PRODUCE EXPORTERS Ngenga of FPEAK adds, “Major
ASSOCIATION OF KENYA
Kenya mainly exports french beans, snow players, entrepreneurs, and the
peas, sugar snaps, broccoli, chilli, roses, government need to establish
carnations, avocado, passion fruits, and flowers are exported by sea from Kenya.” consolidation and storage centres
mangoes. Kenya earned $1.39 billion in Kenya has also opened an alternative around the existing production areas.
2021 and the figure is expected to surpass air freight route from the Kisumu This would ensure that the produce is
2021 earnings for the year 2022 since the International Airport this year, which saw kept in the cold chain as soon as it is
volumes have returned to pre-pandemic expansions that included cargo handling harvested. The standard gauge railway
levels and surpassed. The demand for and cold storage facility creation via should be fitted with gensets to provide
fruits and herbs is growing widely; public private partnership mode. power for refrigeration units during
specially bananas, avocados, passion However, challenges abound for the transit. The fresh produce sector has
fruits, basil, rosemary and thyme.” fresh produce sector in Kenya. While been engaging with the government and
Kenya is also looking to get into other labour is readily available in Kenya, the other sector players to create capacity for
markets like China, South Korea, India, and cost of labour has increased by around other airports in the country to handle
Jordan among others. However, Ngenga 40% in the major towns. Other challenges fresh produce. As a result of this, there
says that a major shift to the sea route is also facing the horticulture sector are; high- have been direct cargo flights from Moi
being witnessed for the fruits and vegetable cost of production due to increased cost International Airport, Mombasa to
sector post-pandemic. “The Covid-19 of inputs, increased pests, and disease Sharjah International Airport, UAE which
pandemic saw the cost of airfreight increase pressure, inadequate compliance to market had on board 20 tonnes of fresh produce
by 40%. Ocean freight is increasingly requirements on food safety and plant and 23 tonnes of seafood on board. We
becoming a viable option since it is both health, weak traceability system, and less also had a cargo flight from Kisumu
carbon and cost-efficient as compared to equipped regulatory authorities to enhance International Airport to the EU, which
air freight. About 55% of fruits and 1% of compliance to market requirements. had five tonnes of chilli on board.”

10 LUA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022