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: 28 September 2018; Hits: 5853

Flower farm wins three awards for innovation, inclusivity in the workplace

oserian greenhouse Greenhouses at Oserian. The farm runs the world’s largest geothermal greenhouse heating project to reduce carbon emissions and control climate.

Kenya’s largest grower and exporter of rose flowers, Oserian Development Company, has been awarded in three categories of the 2018 Federation of Kenya Employers awards, emerging as the only winner in the horticulture industry.

The win in the innovation and productivity, responsible business conduct and inclusivity and diversity categories, rubberstamps the farm’s commitment to people and planet through sustainable flower growing practices, investment in staff welfare and ethical production of world class flowers.

The annual awards seeks to celebrate excellence in corporate performance, people management and industrial relations amongst employers of various sectors in Kenya.

The rigorous judging process that was overseen by audit company PWC involved self-assessment based on set thematic areas and field visits to test the ‘how’ of the various processes in each thematic area. Scores were then awarded based on the specified metrics.

“This recognition affirms our resolve to continuously innovate in meeting the needs of our staff who oil the engine of our growth while fulfilling market needs. We have endeavoured to ensure workplace becomes the new home for our staff and our open door policy allows the workers to find value in the company as we grow together,” said Mary Kinyua, the Director of Human Resources and Administration at Oserian.

The company has more than 11,000 people living within its premises which comprises of employees and their dependants.

It runs nine educational institutions that cater for the children of the 4,100 workers employed in the farm, healthcare centre complete with ambulances, insurance, staff housing, upgraded roads and electricity that it has sourced independently from geothermal energy.

A crèche with a capacity for 100 babies that has been in existence for ten years ensures that young mothers are taken care of at the workplace allowing them to breastfeed between work breaks.

Run by personnel trained in baby care and housed within the farm’s dispensary the crèche ensures that emergencies are sorted even before the mother is alerted. The creche has been recognized by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health as a center of excellence in workplace breastfeeding.

On diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, the farm has among other initiatives employed deaf people in its various departments who have gone on to become the most productive as they give full attention to their work without any detractions.

“As a company we seek to give everyone a chance to use the skills not just for the growth of the company but for personal development and to take care of their families. We are happy to note that people with special needs, women and young people besides contributing to the diversity of this company, have been pivotal in getting us to where we are today,” Mrs. Kinyua added.

The company has also been a frontrunner in championing responsible flower production by embracing integrated pest management initiatives over conventional pesticides, use of hydroponics technology to reduce fertilizer and water consumption and runs the world’s largest geothermal greenhouse heating project to reduce carbon emissions and control climate.

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: 28 September 2018; Hits: 5656

AGRA increases efforts on food security across Africa, appoints former Ethiopian PM to its board of directors

Hailemariam Desaleg 2 H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Former Ethiopian Prime Ministe. Photo courtesy.

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a pan-African institution has appointed Former Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn to the Board of Directors as part of its commintment in working with governments, public and private sector stakeholders and other partners to increase the incomes and improve the food security of millions of smallholder farmers across Africa.

H.E. Hailemariam served as the 2^nd Executive Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018 and is credited with sustaining the country’s rapid and double-digit economic growth during his tenure off the back of a thriving agricultural sector. He also served as the Chairperson of the African Uinon from 2013 to 2014 and was appointed AU’s champion of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a continental leadership role in which he led by example and then called on other African leaders to make policies and strategies with the aim to end hunger on the continent by 2025.

Commenting on his appointment to the AGRA Board, H.E. Hailemariam states: “I am delighted to be joining AGRA, an organization that has a mandate to transform African agriculture by helping African farmers become successful and practice sustainable agriculture. I strongly believe that African countries and partners can accelerate the implementation of the AU Malabo Declaration to ensure that food is available, accessible and affordable.”

Strive Masiyiwa, AGRA Board Chair, congratulated H.E. Hailemariam on his appointment noting that AGRA will benefit greatly from his extensive knowledge of how to build a thriving agricultural economy. Mr. Masiyiwa notes: “AGRA is extremely fortunate to have such an accomplished and renowned addition to our Board. H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn has helped transform agriculture in Ethiopia especially for smallholder farmers focusing on building skills and access to finance, as a way of driving the country towards a sustainable future. As AGRA supports government leaders to advance their national agricultural visions at scale, his experience as Prime Minister of Ethiopia championing the need for home-grown solutions to transform Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness will prove invaluable.”

H.E. Prime Minister Desalegn’s first engagement as an AGRA Board member was at the 2018 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), September 5-8 in Kigali, Rwanda, where he joined with H.E. President Paul Kagame and other continental and global leaders to put a spotlight on the type of leadership required to drive agricultural transformation. See the Kigali Communiqué for decisions and commitments from the Forum.

The AGRA Board, chaired by Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, Chairman Econet Group, composes of leaders from Africa and the globe drawn from the public and the private sector with a passion for transforming the lives of the majority of Africans living in rural areas.

Other distinguished personalities that have recently joined the AGRA Board include Ms. Hixonia Nyasulu, distinguished South African businesswoman who is the current Executive Chair of Ayavuna Women's Investments, a company whose objective is to acquire quality assets for the economic empowerment of women, and Ms. Cristina Duarte, former Minister of Finance, Planning and Public Administration, Cape Verde. See our website for the complete list of our Board members.

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: 27 September 2018; Hits: 6047

Report: UK’s major seasons and events this year led to increased imports of raspberries from Kenya

A cargo report released last month by the airline, British Airways, shows that the royal wedding, summer holidays, as well as the heat wave experienced in the UK this year, led to an increase in imports of raspberries from Kenya due to an increase in demand.

The cargo data which was extracted from the airline’s sister company, IAG Cargo, the cargo handling division of International Airlines Group from January 1 – July 29, 2018 also indicates an increase in imports of vegetables such as lettuce from the US.

“British Airways operates 800 flights every day globally, therefore, it takes a lot of planning from loading cargo to wine, to sanitary products and first aid kits. So far, the most interesting shipments have included cognac from Bordeaux, France to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, emergency lettuce from Los Angeles, US and raspbwrries from Nairobii, Kenya to the UK due to the produce shortage caused by the heatwave,” said Carolina Martinoli, British Airways' Director of Brand and Customer Experience.

Indeed, during the heatwave and summer period experienced between June and August, some areas in England experience no rain for more than 50 days with temperatures hitting as high as 25C, thus crops stop growing or even dry on the farm. For instance, lettuce cannot grow in such high temperatures.

In this, in order to meet the rise in demand during the period this year, wholesalers were forced to import the produce. In one week for example, IAG Cargo reported importing 30,000 heads of lettuce from Los Angeles to the UK, after demand increased by 40 per cent.

Raspberries, on the other hand, are not heat tolerant and will dry on the farm before their maturity period.

“So far in 2018, 26 per cent of cargo transported consisted of four per cent perishable produce such as raspberries from Kenya,” reported British Airways.

The Kenya Horticulture Exporters (KHE) transports at least 22 tonnes a day of fresh produce from raspberries to tender stem broccoli through IAG Cargo. The shelf life of these products is four-five days; immediately after harvesting, they are transported to the airport, where they are prepared for delivery by storing in cold facilities to maintain their freshness. Every year, the KHE exports 7500 tonnes of perishables via IAG Cargo.

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