“Despite we, in Rwanda and in Africa, are still surrounded by so many plants and flowers in the wild, we have not yet created a culture of planting and using them. Shame on us! Indeed, local species, local shapes, local colors would, no doubt, constitute a market with a lot of potential", says François Nsenga of NINAF Ltd.
Some of the locally grown flowers.
For a couple of years now, this product developer has been looking for a niche market to let the Rwandan floriculture thrive. In a few early articles, we've already discussed the opportunity of developing a niche market to export Rwandan flowers and plants. The floral production still has not come off the ground yet, and Nsenga there continues his determined search. He is now also looking within the country borders to explore to opportunity to create a domestic demand first, that will eventually lead to developing an export market as well. “Local products, once appreciated and used by locals, that will definitely incite foreigners to appreciate and use them too!”
“But since we, in Rwanda and in Africa in general, don’t live in a tradition that appreciates use of flowers and plants, except for food and medicinal purposes, I now want to invite a foreign floral arrangement expert, or anyone else experienced in the industry, to come over and start teaching Rwandans how to appreciate, use, and promote their indigenous flowers: both for indoor and outdoor decoration. A landscaping design school, a flower arrangement design school, or both, with a visible local inspiration, are what is needed indeed.”
For more information
Ninaf Ltd.
François Nsenga
Email: nsenga@ninafconsult.rw
www.ninafconsult.rw