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The European Union (EU) has granted Kenya Sh650 million (€5 million) to support the horticultural sector achieve sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Under a four year programme dubbed New Export Trade (NExT), the EU intends to increase the contribution of the horticultural sector to households.

EU Deputy Head of Delegation to Kenya, Katrin Hagemann, said this will be achieved through the generation of employment opportunities and foreign currency. “And to improve food security safety and nutrition by increasing the resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability of Kenyan horticultural value chains,” said Mr. Hagemann.  

The programme targets the whole value chain with specific focus on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the private and public services that support the horticultural sector

Conceptualized by COLEACP in consultation with stakeholders, he added the NExT Kenya programme is in the context of the European Green Deal -a set of policy initiatives that seeks to make Europe climate neutral by 2050.

Sustainable agriculture

And which in part calls for compliance with SPS and food safety standards for countries exporting fresh produce to the European Union.

COLEACP is an association of companies and experts committed to sustainable agriculture.

Speaking during the digital NExT status event Hagemann said the EU commitment to assist Kenya achieve compliance of horticultural exports to sanitary and phytosanitary standards under the next programme.

“This €5 million programme aims to secure lasting improvement in the capacity of all stakeholders to adapt to evolving sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS), commercial, social and environmental requirements on local, regional and international markets.”

“Kenya’s horticultural export trade continues to focus on Europe – made up of 27 Member States, with a population of around 506 million, the largest trading bloc in the world – and is looking to develop new destinations in Africa and beyond.” He added.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Hamadi Boga underscored the importance of such investments in ensuring the competitiveness of Kenyan horticultural products in the global market.