Horticulture profits fell by Ksh.7.1 billion in January this year, owing to a decrease in the volume of produce shipped
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicates the export value of the produce declined to Ksh.8.1 billion in the period under review from Ksh.15.2 billion a year earlier.
Earnings from the vegetable declined 74 percent to Ksh.867 million, followed by flowers which saw their value dip 39 percent to Ksh.6.4 billion while fruits were down by 26 percent to Ksh.762 million.
During the COVID-19 period, the horticultural industry gained a lot of profit when revenue from fresh product exports fell to Ksh.144 billion in 2019, but increased to Ksh.150 billion during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kenya is seeking to increase its horticulture exports to China in order to boost its revenues.
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) Chief Executive Ojepat Okisegere said China, which has a huge consumer market, can give better revenues as compared to traditional markets in Europe.
According to the ministry of agriculture, Kenya generated approximately Ksh.148 billion from horticulture exports in 2020.
Okisegere said that Kenya currently exports frozen avocados and flowers to China.
The industry is looking to expand into new markets such as China in order to reduce overdependence on a single region, Okisegere added.
