Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Earnings from the country’s horticulture industry increased to Sh157 billion in 2023 production year against the backdrop of local and global economic interruptions.

A market report released by the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPCK) yesterday indicated that earnings grew by 6.8 per cent from Sh147 billion recorded in 2022, with the exports to the European Union (EU) market taking the lion’s share of 50.1 per cent.

Okisegere Ojepati (pictured),  the Consortium Chief executive said the industry endured local and international challenges brought about by the war in Ukraine, months after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Horticultural produce

“Our local produce was exported to 152 destinations making Kenya the leading country in the world to have shipped its horticultural produce to more market segments,” he told a media induction seminar in Naivasha.

Some of the leading export destinations include; Netherlands enjoying a market share of 27.3 per cent of the total horticulture exports, UK (14.3 per cent), France (12), UAE (5.8) and Germany (5.1).

The flowers sub-sector registered 70 per cent, vegetables (18), and fruits (12 per cent) of the total horticulture produce shipped during the review period.

“Interestingly, in the flower sub-sector, roses recorded a decline as other varieties have emerged due to new market preferences,” he confirmed.

Okisegere said during the review period the export market realised realignment with Kazakhstan replacing Russia as an alternative market in Central Asia. “The development was realised following the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war,” he explained.

Locally, during the year under review, Okisegere stated that more farmers joined fruit farming ventures especially avocado. Non-traditional avocado growing counties like Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, parts of Bungoma and Bomet registered increased farming of the fruit.

“Murang’a County is currently leading in terms of avocado growing with 96, 000 farms, where each farmer has an average of 15 trees. But the increased interest by non-traditional avocado growing counties is expected to scale up the production volumes of the most sought-after fruit across the world,” he explained.

During the period under review, Kenya exported 468,438.04 tonnes compared to 391,507 tonnes in 2022.

Kenya is expected to continue performing exemplary in the export market with new destinations exhibiting appetite for Kenyan fresh produce.

Some of the emerging markets include; Turkey, China, India, Eastern European countries- Kazakhstan, Albania, North Africa-Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Ghana.

In the East African Community ( EAC) region, there is high interest from Uganda, Somalia, and Southern Sudan.