This is the fastest growing sector of the economy and ranks as the second largest foreign exchange earner. This has promoted the expansion of fruit, vegetable and flower exports. Top on the list of exports are; fresh cut flowers, French beans, runner beans, snow peas, Asian vegetables, pineapples, mangoes, tomatoes, pawpaw and passion fruits.

Horticulture Exports

Horticulture exports earned the country Ksh. 40 billion in 2004. Another Sh42 billion was generated locally. The industry employed 2.5 million Kenyans directly and another 3.5 million people benefited indirectly.
96 per cent of the total horticultural produce is used locally and only four per cent is exported. Out of 4.4 million tonnes produced in 2003, only 133,232 was exported, fetching Sh36.4 billion that year with floriculture and vegetables accounting for 51 per cent and 33 per cent respectively.

11 per cent of the urban household food consumption in Kenya consists of fruits and vegetables.
Small scale producers are important to the horticultural sub-sector, which has 1.8 million farmers in the domestic market. 60 per cent of the horticultural produce export was from small scale farmers in 2003. However, the figure declined to 55 per cent last year due to stringent consumer demands for high quality and safe produce.

Problems facing the industry, include a strong shilling against major world currencies, unregulated fuel prices and high freight rates.

Cut flowers

The cut flower industry is one of Kenyas major income earners, bringing the country Ksh20 billion annually and employing half a million Kenyans. The floriculture industry controlled 60 per cent of the Ksh13 billion African flower trade in 2004. Kenya is the largest supplier of fresh cut flowers to the European Union, accounting for 25% of all flower exports to that market.

Flower production in Kenya is done on approximately 2,000 hectares of land and mostly in the Naivasha area in the Rift Valley Province.

The Kenya Flower Council (KFC), an organization representing 70% of Kenyas flower growers, was formed in 1996. The KFC ensures its members follow its code of practice. Through this code, the members undertake to invest in the environment. The members are also audited regularly and are trained on health, safety and environmental issues concerning the industry.

For more information visit: www.hcda.or.ke