Featured Past Articles
loriculture has emerged as a viable diversification option in the agri-business. It is a rapidly expanding dynamic industry recording a growth rate of more than 15 per cent per annum in the last two decades. Rapid urbanization, increased income levels and changes in social values resulted in increase of export market for cut flowers. Improvement in the general level of well being and increased affluence particularly among the middle class is also another reason for increase in the volume of local flower market.
The post-harvest behaviour of flowers is an outcome of the physiological processes, occurring in leaves, stem, flower bud, leafless peduncle or scape connecting bud to the stem. Some of these processes may act independently to affect the senescence and vase life of cut flowers but most of them are inter-related. The nature and extent of postharvest damage is typical for each crop or cultivar. The post harvest losses become important especially when dealing with the export of fresh flowers to distant and foreign market. Therefore, patient, soft and expert handling of flowers is of utmost importance after harvest.
Read more: Post-Harvest Management in Commercial Flower Crops
Changing market conditions
- Direct trade channels, bypassing the Dutch auction system, are on the rise
- Virtualisation of the trade
- Increased competition with Latin America in upcoming direct markets (Russia, Japan)
How would you explain Mwadzombo Pole background and your job to a 10-year-old (Personal background and professional background to your current position as Agronomy Manager ornamentals and export vegetables at Amiran Kenya Ltd
I joined the profession in 2002, at Kingfisher farm Naivasha as a general worker where I had the privilege to work in all sections of production of Roses. Later I was promoted as a young irrigation technician, a job I worker for 6 months before I went to Uganda as an expatriate at Rosebud, in charge of crop nutrition and propagation.
Kenya Airways launched a firstever cabin cargo repurposing of a Boeing 787 into a “Preighter”. The term preighter was coined at the height of the pandemic last year to refer to passenger aircraft converted to cargo.
This has been made possible through a partnership with Avianor, a leader in the aerospace industry for more than 25 years. Through the partnership, the team repurposed its aircraft cabins into cargo transportation on the Boeing 787.
Read more: Hope for Exporters as KQ Launches Cargo Preighter
On 20th February 2021, Agrichem Africa Ltd sponsored its first Lawn Tennis tournament for juniors. The event provided an opportunity to appreciate and engage the community. In attendance was Agrichem Africa Ltd Managing Director Mr. Shiraz Karmali.
The winners took home a trophy and a certificate.
Other than children getting a fun in the Lawn Tennis course, prospecting future international champions interacted freely with international coaches and fellow competitors.
Read more: Agrichem Africa Ltd Sponsors High Performance Open 2021 Lawn Tennis Tournament
Downy mildew is a fungal disease that causes destruction of leaves, stems, and flowers of the infected plant. Downy mildew causal organism is called Peronosporasparsa and as the scientific name indicates, the production of spores is sparse and therefore this disease is difficult to diagnose and control.
Peronospora sparsa, is a fungus-like eukaryotic microorganism (oomycete), more closely related to algae than to fungi. P. sparsa is an obligate parasite that establishes long term feeding relationship with rose plant and its growth depends on the living plant tissues.
The need to reduce the carbon footprint is necessary because packaging of the flowers for transportation is an important aspect of the value chain, as it also helps maintain the product’s integrity till the end. While the stakeholders in Amsterdam, Netherlands have taken the necessary steps ahead of the season, in Africa, Nairobi-based Silpack is doing its part too. It is an active and instrumental part of the packaging industry for flowers and just like any other industry, the Kenyan company was affected with the Covid-19 pandemic.
