Kenya is desperately trying to comply with new demands imposed by Australia to ensure the country's cut flowers continue to access the fast growing market.
Early this year, Australia introduced new requirements that all flowers exported to the country be fumigated at the country of origin as part of new biosecurity rules. Before the new regulations, exporters were undertaking the fumigation process in Australia.
Although the rules introduced on March 1 were to take effect in August, the Kenyan government managed to negotiate for an extension and got a deadline of December.
"Australia's new rule that every exporter fumigates flowers at source is a big challenge for Kenyan growers and exporters because we do not have fumigation facilities," said Nehemiah Chepkwony, Horticulture Crops Directorate interim head.