Nairobi, Kenya – Dr. Ronoh Paul, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Agriculture, spearheaded a launch meeting for the Market Access Project. The meeting, held in conjunction with representatives from the Netherlands, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), and the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), focused on ensuring compliance with the European Union’s (EU) False Codling Moth (FCM) regulation for flowers.
Horticulture remains one of Kenya’s largest sub-sectors, contributing a substantial 33% to the Agricultural GDP. This initiative aims to uphold the sector’s reputation and market share by meeting stringent EU standards, particularly for rose flowers.
The primary objective of the engagement was to formulate strategies ensuring that Kenyan flowers exported to the EU meet all required standards. Key discussions revolved around the development of a system approach protocol, capacity building, and the evaluation of cut flower farms.
Dr. Ronoh emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards to retain access to the lucrative EU market. He highlighted that compliance with the FCM regulation is critical for sustaining and growing Kenya’s export potential in the horticulture sector.
The collaborative effort with the Netherlands and local regulatory bodies signifies a commitment to quality and market competitiveness. This initiative is expected to benefit local flower farms by enhancing their capacity and ensuring their products meet international standards.
