This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
Kenya's horticulture industry was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with flower firms shedding over 30,000 casual workers and sending over 40,000 permanent staff on compulsory leave.
However, according to the Kenya Plantations and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU), 85% of the workforce in flower and vegetable farms are being recalled back to duty.
As of now, the remaining workforce is on unpaid leave, with hopes that they will be called in the coming weeks when the situation stabilizes.
“Currently 85% of our workforce are back in the farms as the majority had been sent home on normal leave or unpaid leave at the height of the pandemic,” said KPAWU secretary-general Ferdinand Juma.
It's worth noting that KPAWU secretary-general Francis Atwoli, who is also the Secretary-General of KPAWU, entered into an MOU with the farmers that no one would be sent home.
Kenya's horticulture industry is estimated to be losing at least Sh106 Million per day as a direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by Scope Markets Kenya.
Although some demand for horticulture exports has returned and losses have reduced, the outlook remains bleak throughout the coming months.
Shipments of flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruits to the European Union, which accounts for more than 80% of horticulture exports from Kenya, all but ceased in March this year following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenyan farms have drastically reduced export volumes to 50%, with a sizeable number suspending exports altogether.
