BASF East Africa Company has launched a new pesticide for the flower industry to control powdery mildew.
The new product known by the brand name as Dagonis was developed after research that took 11 years and meets the required international standards for export flowers. According to Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Flower Council (KFC) Clement Tulezi, the new product which even exceeds the international market requirements is timely and a relief to the flower sector where the powdery mildew disease has been a big challenge throughout the year thus impeding production.
He also called upon the Government to review the 16 per cent tax on pesticides introduced last year, saying it was hurting the industry which was still smarting from the global economic crunch brought about t by the effect of Covid-19.
Tulezi further lamented that the cost of energy in the country which is the highest in the region was also hurting the horticultural sector and urged the government to intervene.
“Compared to our neighbours like Uganda and Ethiopia who is our biggest competitor in the industry, the cost of energy in Kenya is so high affecting the competitiveness of our industry,” he said.
Horticulture
The horticulture sub-sector which includes vegetables, flowers, fruits and medicinal aromatic plants is among the key sectors of agriculture in Kenya contributing to foreign exchange, household incomes and food and nutrition security. It employs about 6.5 million Kenyans directly and indirectly.
The floriculture sector alone directly impacts the livelihoods of over two million Kenyans and has employed over 200,000 people. Production is centered around the Great Rift Valley, in Lake Naivasha, Mount Kenya and o Nairobi among other areas of the country.
The total area under horticulture is estimated at 496,062 Ha with the production of 7.9 million Metric Tons. Roses accounted for the largest share of flowers export earnings with the value of exports standing at Shs. 71.8 billion from 70.8 billion l in 2020r followed by mixed flowers with 17.8 billion and cuttings Shs. 15.8 billion compared to Shs. 94 billion and Shs. 13 billion earned in 2020 respectively.
The flower industry in Kenya managed to bloom in the difficult period of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 earning the country Sh.104Billion. These earnings then grew slightly in 2021 to earn the country Sh.110Billion. This is after the volume of flowers exported increased by 33 percent from 287.8 million kilos in 2020 to 373.78 million kilos in 2021.
