Produce worth Sh0.5b expire as pilots strike
The local horticulture industry says it has lost over Sh500 million in terms of value of fresh produce awaiting export to various destinations following the ongoing strike by Kenya Airways (KQ) pilots strike.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Franklin Mithika Linturi yesterday confirmed that local horticulture producers and traders are counting losses with over 100 metric tonnes of fresh produce which was supposed to have been airlifted daily still stored in local warehouses.
Horticulture depends on KQ
“The impact of the KQ pilots’ strike on the local horticulture industry is huge as the majority of producers and traders rely on the national carrier to ship their fresh produce to various export destinations globally especially in the European Union (EU),” Linturi said.
Speaking at a meeting organised by French based inspection and accreditation firm - Bureau Veritas and Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPCK), Linturi said that out of the incurred loss, 75 per cent comprised of cut flowers, while 25 per cent of the loss came from raw meat.
The pressure has however been eased by other airlines like KLM, Ethiopian Airline, Egypt and Air France whose services were not interrupted by the strike.
Linturi calls the strike a wakeup call, prompting the government to think of new strategies to ensure exports and passenger business is not interrupted in future.
The government plans to call upon both local and international private players to invest in air cargo business to cushion the sector from future industrial action.
This even as Kenya Airways (KQ) Chief Executive Officer said yesterday the airline is pursuing contempt of court proceedings against the Kenya Airlines Pilot Association (KALPA) executive committee, jointly and severally, for breaching a court order.
CS terms strike a wake up call
He said this follows taking part in, and inciting its members to participate in an unlawful strike, causing immense revenue losses to the company, damaging the image and reputation of the company, as well as national and economic sabotage.
As part of measures to cushion the economy, Linturi said the government will invest heavily in ensuring food safety in the local market is achieved. The CS said the same will be achieved through National Government and County Governments, and private sector establishing key infrastructure.
“For example, successive governments have invested in construction of a fresh produce market fitted with modern technologies especially cooling systems to guarantee produce longevity,” he stated.
The CS added that the 2016 developed Kenyan Standard dubbed KS 1758 is part of a bigger strategy to promote food safety in the country.
Even though there is low uptake of the standards by producers, farmers, supermarkets , groceries, county markets, consolidators, pack houses and exporters, preference on safe food is picking up compared to some years ago.
“Application of the KS1758 I&II will enhance the quality and safety of our products hence leading to increased trade in the domestic and international markets,” Linturi added.
FPCK chief executive officer Okisegere Ojepat called on the government to use all the labour relations mechanisms available to end the strike for the sake of the local economy.
Use labour laws to end strike
He said losses were recorded after transit cargo of fresh produce for export went stale at the airports during the standoff and urged the concerned parties to reach out and strike a return to work deal.
“So far we have lost over Sh500 million as local fresh producers since the KQ pilots’ strike kicked off. Producers and traders using KQ to lift their cargo to various export destinations are suffering greatly,” said Ojepat.
Horticultural Crops Directorate Benjamin Tito said even though major international airlines that equally airlift local horticulture produce to various export endpoints have not been affected by the strike, industry value chains that use KQ are concerned.
Principal Secretary of livestock Harry Kimtai confirmed that the ministry in conjunction with agriculture stakeholders has formulated the Food Policy and Food Safety Bill as part of the strategy to enhance food safety locally.
The documents he said has passed through the necessary stakeholder participation and soon will be submitted to the cabinet for further perusal. “We have already prepared a cabinet memo which will be presented to the cabinet soon so that the documents can be approved and then subjected to other authorities scrutiny,” said Kimtai.
“Why the policy and bill… we have been having silos and independent agencies regulating food within their own jurisdiction and this has been affecting the country in terms of not working in a coordinated manner. Thus prompting us to develop the policy and bill,” he added.
