Kenyan horticulture earnings dropped by Sh32 billion (€262 mln) in the first half of the year on the back of reduced revenues from flowers, vegetables and fruits. The Horticulture Directorate says the value of export produce declined by 40 percent to Sh48.4 billion from Sh80.7 billion in the corresponding period a year earlier.
The Directorate says the value was driven down by a decline in volume and lower quality avocado in the first quarter of the year as the exported products were not mature enough. The data shows that the volume of fruits dropped from 82.1 million to 44 million kilograms in the review period. The directorate had projected that the export earnings for horticulture would pick from April onwards after the ban on harvesting of avocado was lifted in March, however, that is yet to reflect in the latest figures.
Earnings from flowers dropped from Sh53.2 billion last year to Sh37.3 billion in the half period under review while fruits raked in Sh5.6 billion from Sh12 billion previously. Returns from vegetables fell by Sh10.1 billion to 5.4 billion.
[ Sh100 = €0,82 ]
Source: businessdailyafrica.com