Featured Past Articles

The global economy is increasingly at a risk of sliding into recession according to recent surveys. Consumers are faced with generation-high inflation rein in spending while central banks are tightening policy aggressively. Spiralling costs of farm inputs like fertiliser in the back drop of global disruptions have also seen flower exporters grapple with higher input costs.

This year’s Valentine’s Day, florists and retailers were in the middle of a rush, but all over the world, the holiday was different compared to last year, which was filled with optimism. This year, the weather seemed to have been a major challenge in Latin America and Africa, delaying production. Pre-books seemed to be in later than usual, and for some, they were even lower. Prices at the Dutch auction were lower than expected. Production and transportation costs were high and the florist and, eventually, the end consumer felt it.

This year’s National Farmers’ Awards gala dinner was held in Nairobi. The event, formerly known as Presidential Farmers competition Scheme, was first launched in 2013 as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Ministry of Agriculture and Elgon Kenya Limited. It was presided over by the Principal Secretary, State Department of Crop Development, Phillip Kello Harsama, on behalf of the Chief Guest, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. Mr. Harsama was assisted by his colleague in the state department of Livestock PS Harry Kimtai and Elgon’s Managing Director Dr. Bimal Kantaria. Individual farmers as well as companies were among the awardees of the day.

What is insecticide resistance modelling and who uses it? One of the most common questions asked of insecticide resistance researchers is “How long will it take for insecticide resistance to occur?”

Aphids

One way to answer this questions is to look at past events and identify trends that may repeat. This can be informative, but limited to general trends. For example in the crop protection market, it is often predicted that a pest insect that feeds on diverse hosts and is treated with multiple insecticides is much more likely to develop resistance than an insect pest found on a single host plant and has limited exposure to insecticides. These kinds of basic predictions or trends are regularly used by researchers and insecticide manufacturers to prioritise their resistance management activities, focusing on where the risks of resistance development are highest or have most economic or social impact. Predicting resistance development with more accuracy and reliability beyond these trends becomes considerably more difficult.

The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) in collaboration with IDH project, flagged off the first reefer container shipment of avocados by sea. IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative, is an organisation (Foundation) that works with businesses, financiers, governments and civil society to realise sustainable trade in global value chains and facilitates private sector access to international markets. The shipment alternative, diverting from airfreight to sea freight seeks a long-term business partnership with international buyers.

Across the floriculture industry, retailers are facing a quality challenge, with exciting opportunities in its wake. With the flower market growing rapidly, flower sellers will flourish with stable supply chains and dependable quality levels; however, today’s retailers, from independent family stores to national supermarket chains, too often receive flowers of inconsistent quality: regularly, batches are unacceptable, with a short vase life, damaged stems, and flowers that are not worth selling due to poor quality on arrival. This leads to unhappy customers and loss of reputation and revenues. Alongside broader industry concerns, like reduced air freight capacity, this problem can significantly limit growth. So where’s the opportunity? It’s right here, and it centers on implementing data-driven quality standards throughout the flower supply chain.

The baptism of Rosa Loves Me Paula’s Champagne Delight

Paula Koross and Rosa Baptizing of Rosa Loves Me Paula’s Champagne Delight with Inger Kristine on the right.

"A productive, healthy, fragrant rose with the right length and a vase life of more than two weeks.” The rose in question is Rosa Loves Me Paula’s Champagne Delight’ of Viking Roses, a new rose that has been baptized at the IFTF in Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands, earlier this month. The rose is named after Paula Koross, General Manager at Molo River Roses in Kenya.

Augusto Solano, President of Union Fleurs

Double-digit inflation and skyrocketing energy prices and rations are threatening Europe’s production of flowers, including chrysanthemums, which are grown in greenhouses with heat and lights.

With double-digit inflation and crippling energy costs and rations throughout Europe due to the conflict in Ukraine, flower producers are switching crops, reducing production or shutting down, putting into question the future availability of crops grown there using heat and lights.