KENYA: “Vegetable exporters can fill an airplane several times a week.”

Logistics remains the main problem for Kenya’s vegetable exporting producers. Commercial passenger flights have not been allowed to land in Nairobi since last Wednesday. This was the most common means of transport used to send vegetables to Europe. Members of FPEAK (Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya) are convinced that they can easily fill a plane (100 tons) several times a week.

All stakeholders in the Kenyan horticultural sector are mobilizing to try to maintain jobs and incomes and avoid unemployment and social unrest.

According to the AEA (Agricultural Employers Association) supermarkets mainly in the UK, Sweden and Russia have maintained orders for Kenyan fresh produce. The organisation says it is confident that, after some adjustments, European demand for fruit and vegetables should pick up again. In contrast to the flower sector, where the situation is considered catastrophic.