Increasing high airfreight cost and lack of transport capacity has prompted Kenya flower value chains to consider using sea freight, and International Floriculture Trade Exhibition (IFTEX) was told yesterday.

Kenya Flower Council (KFC), the umbrella body of floriculture players yesterday said Covid-19 when it emerged in 2020 exposed the limitations of airfreight in Kenya.

“Passenger flights carry freight in the belly of the plane and due to a high amount of flights being cancelled there was a huge shortfall of airfreight capacity as airlines result to passenger business more than cargo,” KFC CEO Clement Tulezi during the opening of the  IFTEX in Nairobi.

During the event, KFC signed a framework of cooperation with the Embassy of the Netherlands which is set to strengthen the efforts in the adoption of sea freight for perishables in Kenya.

Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya, Maarten Brouwer and KFC chairman Richard Fernandes signed the framework agreement. Brouwer said that the key to the success of the framework will be the close collaboration between key stakeholders.

The players include the governments of Kenya and the Netherlands, logistics firms, trade associations, growers, exporters and other private sector players.