[Photo: The Wall Street Journal]
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that horticultural earnings dropped by 7.1 billion shillings in January, as the volume of produce exported declined.
The data indicates that the export value of the produce declined to 8.1 billion shillings from 15.2 billion shillings in December 2021.
Earnings from vegetables declined 74 percent to 867 million shillings, followed by flowers which dropped 39 percent to 6.4 billion shillings, while fruits went down by 26 percent to 762 million shillings.
This is comes as the horticulture sector had been enjoying good earnings since 2019.
Earnings from horticulture exports hit a historic high in 2020 at 158 billion shillings, to remain the leading foreign exchange earner ahead of tea and tourism sectors.
According to the Directorate of Horticulture the good results were boosted by the high demand for Kenyan produce in the world market in 2020.
The European Union takes the largest portion of Kenya’s horticultural exports with 45 percent.
The commodities exported to the union comprise cut flowers, French beans, snow peas, and Asian vegetables.
The leading export destinations for all the horticultural produce are the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, the Middle East, and the Far East.
A newsmaker, reporter and anchor at Pearl Radio, Ndalilah Sharon is witty and savvy.
She is also a firm believer of Christ.