Stringent market requirements remain major hurdle for Kenya's export, report

A trader displays fruits in Kisii town on May 6, 2024. Most of the fruits sold in Kisii town are sourced from Tanzania through Sirare border. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

The highly competitive market in the European Union with stringent market requirements remains the biggest hurdle for Kenya’s exports, a report has shown.

The Global 2023 Horticulture report indicates that high cost of compliance to standards, frequent interceptions due to exceedance of pesticide residues, high freight costs and expensive air transport are among the market constraints on Kenyan produce.

Presented on October 2, 2024, the report also indicates that the global market risks commercial disputes arising from issues like non-payment for deliveries.

In terms of production, the report cites high input costs, fertilizers, fuel, labour and inadequate extension services in public and private sectors as some of the constraints.

Others include poor crop husbandry practices by smallscale farmers leading to low productivity, inadequate production infrastructure irrigation systems, cold chain facilities (coldrooms, refrigerated trucks etc), aggregation centres/ packhouses and poor postharvest handling practices.

Speaking during the presentation of the report, Acting Deputy Director Horticultural Crops Directorate Dr Jacqueline Chesaro despite the challenges, tremendous opportunities lie in the high global demand for fruit and vegetables driven by a health-conscious middle-class in existing and newly industrialised countries like China, and India and the Middle-East

“We have opportunities in an existing market – especially in Europe and diversifying to new routes, diverse agroecological zones suitable for Fruit and vege production all year round and land availability for expansion in non-traditional production zones,” said Chesaro.

She said new and potential markets like AfCFTA, India, China and the Far East and existing road, rail networks and seaports with cold chain facilities also offer great opportunities for Kenyan produce.

“We have favourable government policies and support towards promotion and utilisation of fruits and vegetables like distribution of seedlings and value chains under the Agriculture Pillar of the Bottom Up Transformational Agenda (BETA) aimed at increasing exports, reducing imports, enhanced food security,” she said.

According to her, the EU continues to be the top market for Kenya’s Fruits and vegetable export.

She said the global production for fruits in the year under review stood at 933,037 tons and 1,173,070 tons for vegetables.

The global share of exports in production was 12 per cent for fruits (114,899 tons) and 6 per cent for vegetables (74,300 tons).

Chesaro said Kenya’s share of global fruit production was 0.5 per cent (4,242 tons) while vegetable was 0.3 per cent (3,388 tons).

While Kenya’s global share of exports in production was 3 per cent for fruits (131 tons) and 2 per cent for vegetables (78 tons), fruits contributed to 52 per cent of the total horticulture value.

According to the report Murang’a, Lamu and Meru were the top counties in terms of production with 17, 10 and 9 per cent respectively.

Other significant producers were Makueni, Kisii, Taita Taveta, Kirinyaga and Kiambu counties.

“The major fruits produced in 2023 were Banana (34%), Avocado (23%), Mangoes (16%), Oranges (5.8%) and Watermelon (5%) and Other major fruits were Pawpaw, Pineapple and Lime,” read the report.

Avocado, Pineapples, mangoes, Apples, oranges and Raspberries were the top export fruits in 2023

High-producing Counties were Nyandarua (11.2%), Meru (8.8%), Nakuru (7.1%) and Narok (5.2%).

Others were Kiambu, Machakos, Bungoma, Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta and Murang’a counties.

Significant vegetables produced included tomatoes, cabbages, kales, garden peas, bulb onions, spinach and french beans.

French beans, mixed vegetables, snow peas, cowpeas and broccoli were the top export vegetables.

Chesaro said systems are being put in place to deal with concerns about post-harvest losses.

“We now focus on capacity building that will enhance sanitation and quality so that we can improve our global ranking,” she said.

According to Chesaro, although levies on Kenyan exports are anchored within the law, there have been concerns that several pay points are delaying clearance.

“Although the current situation in the Red Sea has worsened export rates while increasing travel time with 10 days and the amount of clearing each container by over Sh25,000, we are working towards ensuring that the clearance process is enhanced,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya CEO Okisegere Ojepat who said the report plays a vital role in helping the sector take stock to increase market access.

Ojepat said the report also helps in branding and marketing Kenyan produce to increase competitiveness to command the market in numbers and quality.

“All we need to do is be responsive to global changes driven by climate or food safety changes. We must as a country learn not just to produce but produce for a market which can be made possible is we understand market dynamics,” said Ojepat.