Commodity Watch

Kenya Gets Ksh 72 Billion From Horticulture in 5 Months

BY Juma · July 8, 2020 11:07 am

As Kenya continues to battle the surge in Covid-19, and as businesses around the world continue to be hit by the pandemic, Kenya’s horticultural sector seems to be blooming and sailing through.

Data from the Directorate of Horticulture in Kenya shows that earnings from horticulture for Kenya grew to 72 billion shillings between January and May 2020, an increase of 7 billion shillings from 65 billion shillings in 2019.

As the pandemic disrupted markets around the world, there was a high demand for vegetables and fruits. In 5 months, Kenya sold more fruits, especially avocado to other countries as compared to vegetables and flowers.

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Earnings from fruits in the five-month period stood at 11 billion shillings, a growth from 6 billion shillings during the same period in 2019. Vegetables brought in 10.5 billion shillings, a growth of 400 million shillings from 10.1 billion shillings in 2019.

“We have been supplying to few countries at a relatively higher price, which lifted the earnings in the last five months as compared with the previous period,” said Benjamin Tito, head of the directorate.

Kenyan horticultural farmers took advantage of the cargo flights in and out of the country to export their produce to other western countries such as Britain and the United States of America.

During the week, avocado farmers entered a deal to sell their fruits at least 20 shillings per fruit going forward.

About Juma

Juma is an enthusiastic journalist who believes that journalism has power to change the world either negatively or positively depending on how one uses it.(020) 528 0222 or Email: info@sokodirectory.com