Rainfall hits fresh produce exports as EU orders rise

Horticulture produce is expected to drop in the next month as the sector reels from the effects of heavy rains and diseases that have slowed down production amid rising orders in the European market.

Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) chief executive Ojepat Okesegere anticipates production to fall by between 20 and 30 percent because of heavy rains that came with pests and diseases.

Europe, which is Kenya’s main market, has been easing restrictions as it opens up the economy following months of lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.

“The shortage is as a result of a number of things that include too much rain, transitioning of the crops from the old to the new one and a lack of motivation as farmers relaxed when their orders were cancelled during the Covid-19 lockdowns,” he said.

Mr Okesegere said the new crop is expected to get to the market after a month and would boost Kenya’s export market as the industry slowly recovers from the shocks.

The decline in volumes comes at a time the number of international airlines at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have gone up following high demand for freight services for horticulture produce.

The latest entrants are British Airways and Singapore Airlines which had stopped plying the route following restrictions put in place and low demand for horticultural produce in Europe after many orders were cancelled.

Airlines have also increased frequencies with Ethiopian Airlines flying daily from JKIA, KLM three times a week with KQ #ticker:KQ also making a couple of trips to Europe and China.

Freighters are at the moment charging between $2.8 and $3.5 per kilo which ordinarily costs about a dollar.

FPC said an increase in the number of flights at JKIA would reduce the freight charges.

The shortage of fruits and vegetable in Europe has pushed up demand for Kenya’s horticulture produce, leading to a resumption of orders.

However, the flower business is still low following the closure of the auction in Amsterdam, with the orders only picking last weekend as the world celebrated Mothers’ Day.