[Dateline: Nairobi, Kenya].
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has dealt a severe blow to Kenya’s floriculture sector, leading to substantial financial losses. Growers are now reporting weekly losses of up to $1. 4 million, with the sector valued at over $800 million by the Central Bank of Kenya.
At Isinya Flower Farms, south of Nairobi, exports have plummeted by over 50 percent, with Marketing Manager Anantha Kumar noting that the farm is now discarding nearly half of its produce due to decreased demand. The Kenya Flowers Council, a private sector organization representing growers and exporters, reports over $4. 2 million in losses over the past three weeks, with the CEO, Clement Tulezi, warning of potential job losses in a sector that directly employs up to half a million Kenyans.
The ongoing conflict poses a significant threat to the sector’s stability and the livelihoods of those it employs.
Source: Africanews
