According to Floral Statistics; If you give or receive any flowers this year, they were most likely imported from Kenya. Many of the flowers delivered or available for sale may have come from Kenya, which has a great climate for delivering roses, and has less demand from its recent biggest customers.
Kenya is the world’s third largest grower of cut flowers, accounting for about 40 per cent of all sales in the European Union, according to the Kenya Flower Council. Ecuador and Colombia are notable number one and two whereas the worlds distributor is Netherlands. In the past, Russia has been a big customer of flowers from Kenya.
FAVOURABLE CLIMATE
The country’s flower growing success is attributed to its favourable climate, which enables a year-round cultivation of high-quality blossoms without the need for expensive-to-run greenhouses.
Floriculture industry in Kenya records significant improvementas per Floral Statistics
The Kenya floriculture sub-sector recorded significant improvement in recent years where 121,891 metric tons valued at kshs 44.5 billion were exported according to the USAID Kenya Horticulture competitiveness project (KHCP) statistics. This translated to a growth of 1% in volumes and 25% in value compared to 2010.
Kenya secured kshs 91.6 billion from the horticultural exports in 2011. This indicates that the horticulture exports grew by 18% in value in 2011 compared to 2010 where the industry earned kshs 77.7 billion. 382,638 metric tons valued were exported in 2011, a drop of 5% compared to 403, 026 metric tons exported in 2010.
Please see the table below – Floral Statistics:
Horticultural Exports 2010 & 2011 Comparison
| Type | 2010 | 2011 | % Change | |||
| Quantity (Kgs) | Value (KES) | Quantity (Kgs) | Value (KES) | Quantity | Value | |
| Flowers | 120,220,846 | 35,557,457,205 | 121,891,436 | 44,506,056,083 | 1% | 25% |
| Vegetables | 123,813,087 | 21,416,561,863 | 92,201,537 | 21,513,237,985 | -26% | 0% |
| Nuts | 11,827,980 | 1,997,516,145 | 12,999,655 | 2,660,083,562 | 10% | 33% |
| Fruits | 32,501,074 | 2,789,134,974 | 37,068,526 | 3,626,732,716 | 14% | 30% |
| Processed Vegetables | 35,649,188 | 9,187,224,162 | 40,094,598 | 12,002,823,843 | 12% | 31% |
| Processed Fruits | 79,013,546 | 6,762,034,204 | 78,382,021 | 7,287,583,444 | -1% | 8% |
| Total | 403,025,721 | 77,709,928,553 | 382,637,773 | 91,596,517,633 | -5% | 18% |
Moreover, the potential growth in 2012 for the floriculture industry is promising despite the challenges from external factors. With only months remaining to the general elections, the industry is facing major challenges emanating from concern over the economic status of countries in the global market.
The sector may also face challenges in productivity as result of the impact of climatic change, stringent market standards requirements and also undue anxiety as a result of delay in the determination of the EAC EU EPAs. Other challenges will be in delayed VAT Refunds, aggressive NGO campaigns based on social accountability. Additionally the industry will face complexities arising from continuing implementation of the New Constitution, particularly the institutionalization of the Country Governments.
