The government is sourcing an alternative freight mode for fresh produce exports, agriculture CS Mithika Linturi has said. This is in the wake of the Kenya Airways pilots' strike that has paralyzed flights, hitting exporters hard.
According to the CS, the horticulture sector has so far incurred losses of more than Sh200 million, hence the need to mitigate against the wrecking effects. Linturi underscored the impact of the agricultural value chains on the economy.
The Economic Survey 2022 shows the value of horticulture exports increased from Sh150.2 billion in 2020 to Sh157.7 billion in 2021. During the review period, horticultural output, key among them the cut flowers, benefitted from better export prices offered in the export market.
"The industry is still facing many challenges, including the ongoing strike. My Ministry is, however, working on a temporary measure to avail special planes to avert further losses in the sector," said Linturi.
The cabinet secretary spoke when he officiated over a consultative forum that brings together agricultural value chain actors under the auspices of the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPCK) and Bureau Veritas.
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