The Kenyan government and industry partners will accelerate regulatory and policy reforms, diversification and value addition to boost the volume of horticultural products exported overseas, senior officials said on Friday. Speaking at a forum in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, which was attended by policymakers, industry executives, donors, researchers and farmers' representatives, the officials stressed that incentivizing horticulture farmers through reforms in key value chains, improved access to capital, capacity building and technology adoption will enhance the competitiveness of fresh produce in international markets. In 2023, Kenya earned 156 billion shillings (about 1.2 billion U.S. dollars) from the export of fresh horticultural products such as flowers, vegetables and fruits, boosting foreign currency reserves and job creation, said Paul Kipronoh Ronoh, principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. To increase the volume of fresh produce exported abroad, Ronoh said the government will help smallholder farmers access credit, quality fertilizer and seeds, market information and the ability to comply with phytosanitary requirements. Christine Chesaro, acting director of the Horticultural Crops Directorate, said the government and private sector partners will leverage research, innovations and international best practices to boost the export of cut flowers, avocado and French beans. Chesaro said other interventions the government has prioritized to increase the volume of fresh produce exports include modernizing transport and storage infrastructure, improving governance and implementing flexible regulations. Lusike Wasilwa, director of crop systems at Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization, said that harnessing artificial intelligence could offer long-term solutions to challenges facing the horticulture sector, including poor mechanization, climatic stresses and post-harvest losses.
