"Right CSR policy is the perfect glue in our operation"

At the very moment we meet farm manager John Muiru, an audit by Flocert is taking place. Zena Roses breaths social responsibility, and if not the farm, its farm manager does. “We have 221 employees at our farm here in Thika, Kenya. Most of them have worked here for many years and some even from the very start. Our focus on CSR has definitely been a glue in our entire operation, keeping workers satisfied and dedicated."

John Muiru has been working in the flower industry for over 20 years. For six months now he is overseeing operations at Zena Roses' Thika farm.

Zena Roses is growing roses and other cut flowers in three different farms. The farm in Thika is the oldest and was founded in 1996 by Dr. Sally Kosgei, a public servant and famous politician in Kenya. At 11 hectares intermediate roses are produced. In 2004 Sosiani Farm followed (closely in Eldoret, 25 ha, at 2120 meters above sea level), in 2010 Asai Farm (Eldoret, 21 ha, 2240 meters above sea level) was established.

Some of the greenhouses starting to get old. "We have 23 greenhouse units, each covering 0.5 hectares. If we could plan it all over, I would make sure to make them bigger, say to have 11 times 1 hectare, for example. That works a whole lot more efficient."

Over the last few years a lot has changed: new (mostly social-) projects were initiated, organizational changes were made, and even the production of several herb crops took shape. Two of these are chives and basil, "interesting crops in terms of revenue, but a whole different game altogether as compared to growing flowers", John stresses. "One needs to consider food safety, of course, but it also has far-reaching consequences for the way we work, for the functioning of the company in its entirety".

FairTrade

John is particularly enthusiastic about Flocert. Flocert is the certification body of FairTrade, striving for a sustainable and fair chain, from seed to consumer. "These guys are professionals, not eager to find whatever mistakes we make, but prepared to partner up in seeing improvement. Our employees are to benefit: being certified means a financial win to them: and we are to profit, for a strong tie of loyalty is established. In other words, both employer and employee have a vested interest in being FairTrade certified."

Chives. As one can see, the greenhouse is build on a slope. This seemingly trivial observation is important for water recirculation, since it slowly drains downwards and can be collected again. However, this type of water collection is tricky. The ground slope should be between 1.2% and 1.5% for an effective drainage.

Lastly, especially in the production of medium size roses certification is of primary importance. "We work for direct markets and retail is very sensitive to public opinion. We do wrong we don't get certified, we don't get certified we're out. Generally, high altitude farms produce larger flowers, T-hybrids, mostly destined to eastern European markets. There buyers are anonymous and the questions to the products' origins and production practices is less pressing.

Basil

For more information:
Zena Roses Thika

John Muiru, farm manager

+254 724 410 226

E: johnmu7000@gmail.com