Azali Roses, operating at high altitude in Kenya, reports very positive early results with the rose variety Bahati® by Genviv, represented by De Ruiter. According to General Manager Rathan Kedamadi Puttaiah, the variety is already showing strong adaptability and premium market potential under their conditions.
Azali Roses currently operates 10.4 hectares at 2,100 meters above sea level and is planning a significant expansion of another 12 hectares by the end of the year. Within this production system, Bahati has been introduced on 2,200 m² and is already in production.
© De Ruiter East Africa
Strong first impressions
Rathan describes the initial performance of Bahati as very promising. "Our first impressions are very positive. Bahati has shown strong adaptability to our high altitude conditions and is establishing well with healthy plant vigor," he says.
According to Rathan, Bahati is showing strong performance in growth and uniformity. "Bahati has demonstrated excellent growth and good uniformity. Head size is very good, stem quality is strong, with good length, aligning well with our premium market requirements. Besides that, Bahati clearly positions itself as a premium variety in its colour segment as well."
Expectations
Looking ahead, Azali Roses expects stable performance as the crop moves into full production. Post-harvest performance is also meeting expectations, according to Rathan. "The vase life has been excellent at around 14 days, which meets premium export standards. Overall quality is very good, making it suitable for high-end markets," he notes.
© De Ruiter East Africa
Expansion under consideration
Based on current performance, Azali Roses is already considering further expansion of Bahati production by an additional 2,800 m², bringing the total area of Bahati to 5,000 m². "Yes, we are already planning expansion. This decision is driven by its strong agronomic performance, premium head size and excellent vase life, all of which makes it a commercially attractive variety," Rathan concludes.
Strong market interest
According to Rohit Patil of De Ruiter East Africa, interest in Bahati is also growing at trade level. "Bahati was looking excellent at De Ruiter's stand in Astana at the Flora Expo and many people enquired about it. We see a strong demand for this colour in the market," he says. He adds that recent market visits in Europe confirm year-round commercial potential: "We visited the Netherlands in March to show buyers the Bahati samples and received positive feedback on a rose with this colour and head size that they can buy year-round."
For more information:
Royal De Ruiter
[email protected]
www.deruiter.com
