market

: 26 September 2018; Hits: 11197

Kenyan flowers, fruits and Vegetables in high demand in the European markets

flower Kenya's horticulture produce in high demand in the European Union market. Photo courtesy.

Kenyan horticulture crops such as flowers, fruits and vegetables are currently in high demand in the European Union market pushing Kenyan horticulture exporters into intensive hunt for the produce from farmers who are struggling to meet the expectation.

Already the exporters are experiencing much orders for the produce from European Countries as they gear up for the high season in October 2018 to May 2019.

The European Union is the largest market for cut flowers from Kenya at 38 per cent, approximately 50 per cent of cut flowers from Kenya are sold through the Dutch auction. During the month of October, countries such as the UK celebrate the Halloween holiday, which can be a driving factor in the increase in exports as consumers use cut flowers as decorations.

In fact, data released in October 2017 by Floridata, a UK horticulture research company shows that in October 2016, flower exports in the UK grew by two per cent with cut flowers account for the largest growth in turnover at approximately 10 per cent.

Therefore, as the autumn season continues in Europe, exporters in Kenya are dealing with high demand for flowers, passion fruits and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.

“It is the high season for horticulture exports in Kenya, all the products are in demand now. The low season starts in early June and ends in September. It is when enquiries from importers are high, there is a scarcity of produce due to increase supply and it is when the prices rise so there is a lot of activity during this period,” said Simon Kirima, CEO of Kerry’s Kool Fresh, a Kenyan horticulture export company.

Currently, Kirima is experiencing a high demand for passion fruits and has even been forced to turn down some clients because he cannot meet the demand. He is exporting two tonnes of passion fruits to the UK every week and is expecting it grow to three tonnes during the period. Also, in the last week, he has received three enquiries from importers in the Netherlands.

Additionally, the weather, hot and dry, is currently favourable such that the fruits mature faster, in 60 days, hence production is higher compared to the previous, cool and wet weather, which stagnated the growth of the fruits.

“In Europe, there is a consumption pattern, there are four seasons; summer, autumn, winter and spring. During this season, they are mostly at home rather than travelling, so the food products purchased, including fruits, are for immediate consumption and not storage. We, therefore, expect in November, December and January the demand to be very high,” said Kirima.

For Eunice Mutua, CEO of Select Fresh Produce exporters in fruits and vegetables, she is also experiencing a high demand of passion fruits but the scarcity is already being felt as it is sold out in the farms or pre-booked by other exporters.

“At the moment, very few farmers in the country have passion fruits which can be difficult in meeting clients’ demand,” said Mutua.

Demand in other produce such as orange-fleshed sweet potatoes is being driven by its nutritional value. It contains 77 per cent water, 20 per cent carbohydrate, 1.6 per cent protein, three per cent fibre and almost no fat and has also been found to have anti-carcinogenic properties thus helping in the reduction of the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in women.

In this, Mutua is currently experiencing a demand for one container every week, which contains approximately 28 tonnes of sweet potatoes. She is exporting the produce to the UK, where their buyers are involved in the value addition of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.

“The buyers from the UK are seeking to engage in the value addition of sweet potatoes including the making of bread, children’s porridge or puree among other products. This has driven its demand,” said Mutua.

Besides this, Kenyan exporters are also expecting high demand for mangoes from the UK and Netherlands as its season begins next month until February next year.

Write comment (0 Comments)

: 26 September 2018; Hits: 6368

Kenya to host international grain millers’ conference with focus on trade wars and innovation

Nairobi will host the 29th Annual International Association of Operative Millers Mideast & Africa Region (IAOM MEA) Conference and Expo, Africa’s biggest processed cereal grains forum, from October 22 to 25 October 2018 at the Movenpick Hotel & Residences. Over 500 delegates, including executives of the grain processing industry, grain traders and technology providers are expected to attend this conference.

The IAOM MEA, which connects local flour millers with international grain milling experts, machine suppliers, traders and other allied professionals, will be hosted by the Cereal Millers Association (CMA). The host Chairman of the IAOM will be Nicholas Hutchinson, Group Managing Director of UNGA Holdings Ltd.

Some of the key issues to be discussed, led by keynote speaker Dan Basse, President and Founder of AgResource Co include trade tariffs and the declining world wheat export stocks and how they offer a dynamic world grain market in 2019. US President Trump’s trade tariffs have the potential to dramatically alter commodity flows on changing economics. This occurs along with a sharp drop in the major exporter stocks of wheat. The world exporter stock/use ratio has fallen to a decade low which makes for a dynamic and volatile trade in world wheat valuations in 2019.

New grain storage technology to help farmers avoid Sh15bn post-harvest losses

Pesticide that doubles fruits, vegetables and grain yields

maize grains

Maize grains

Other topics to be addressed include the challenge of feeding nine billion people by 2050 through innovation. Key speakers, including Ian Roberts, Chief Technical Officer of Buhler AG (Switzerland), will highlight how adequate, safe, nutritious and affordable food can be provided in a sustainable manner.

Prior to the three day Conference and Expo, IAOM MEA will conduct a three day technical training whose theme is “Food Safety Management Plan” is targeting to create awareness around food safety, leverage it as a competitive advantage, and reduce risk and liabilities.

This will be the second time Nairobi is hosting an IAOM MEA gathering following a regional conference in 2015 that brought together 43 operative millers and 31 machine suppliers.

The Cereal Millers Association through its Chairman Mr. Mohamed Islam is delighted to be able to host this conference that brings together so many experts in cereals from around the world and encourage all stakeholders to register their attendance on the IAOM MEA website : http://iaom-mea.com/IAOM-KENYA-2018/

The Cereal Millers Association was formed in 2000 and comprises of 45 of the largest millers in the country with varied wheat, maize, rice and feed millers in Mombasa, Machakos, Eldoret, Kitale, Nairobi, Thika, Kisumu, Mwingi amongst others and its membership is still growing. CMA has been very involved in the push for liberalized grain markets with regard to maize and wheat.

Write comment (0 Comments)

: 25 September 2018; Hits: 6436

Agricultural supply platform announces plans to test farmers’ produce for safety

ripe banana

Twiga Foods, an agricultural market place that link farmers and vendors has announced plans to set up facilities to test fruits and vegetables for pesticide residues to ensure consumers safety.

The plan that is estimated to cost Sh23m will see Twiga becoming the first domestic company to regularly test maximum residue levels.

“Twiga Foods is committed to ensuring that all our produce adhere to international Food Safety standards. To achieve this, we have deployed initiatives such as setting up facilities to test fruits and vegetables for pesticide residues to ensure consumer safety,” said Kikonde Mwatela, Chief Operating Officer.

The testing will be done periodically to address consumer concerns over contamination of agricultural produce with agrochemicals.

The food safety initiative follows the recent signing of a $5 million (Sh500m) letter of commitment in financing from the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation to expand Twiga’s distribution network.

RELATED ARTICLE: Maize Storage Quality controls for food safety

Averagely, the agricultural supply platform handles 130 tonnes of produce daily. The firm said in a statement besides testing samples of produce for pesticide residues, farmers will also be trained on the safe use of agrochemicals.

“Today, we source quality produce from thousands of farmers, providing them with a ready guaranteed market, and deliver from our pack houses to thousands of vendors, at prices fair to everyone,” said Mwatela.

Since 2014 when it was launched, Twiga works to address gaps in the market of agricultural produce by providing an efficient marketplace. The technology-based platform sources fruits and vegetables from 8,370 farmers across 20 counties and delivers directly to 5,226 vendors across Nairobi and its environs.

According to Mwatela Kenya loses up to 30 per cent of agricultural to post-harvest losses between the farm and the market.

Write comment (0 Comments)