This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
Naivasha's flower farms have bounced back from the Covid-19 pandemic-induced slump, with production and exports resuming after a month of financial and job losses.
According to the owners, the increase in cargo flights and partial reopening of supermarkets in some European countries and the Dutch auction have contributed to the resumption of production and exports.
Maridadi Flower Farm owner Jack Kneppers said that with production on the rise, some of the workers who had been sent on unpaid leave have now been recalled, with hopes that demand for the exports will increase and be sustained in the coming weeks.
However, the farmers have been forced to introduce stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus at the farms, including taking temperatures and providing masks for their workers.
Speaking at his farm, Kneppers said that they had been shipping out flowers four times a week, unlike in the past where daily production went to waste.
“At the moment we are shipping out over 50 per cent to the European market and disposing of around 20 per cent on the days that demand is low,” he said.
He added that they had been forced to uproot 15 per cent of their crop due to the crisis caused by the pandemic, but were happy now that the situation is improving by the day.
On safety measures, Kneppers said that workers had been provided with face masks and were observing social distancing as per the government directives.
“We are making sure that every morning and afternoon the workers’ temperatures are recorded and they wash their hands every now and then,” he said.
The supervisor in charge of grading section Ruth Oyack said that the company had retained all its workers despite the current crisis.
She added that they were keenly following up the laid out regulations by providing their workers with masks and sanitizers.
Speaking earlier, the CEO of the Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) Wesley Siele said that the drop in exports had contributed to the limited movement of consumers in Europe.
He added that supermarkets mainly in the UK, Sweden, and Russia were still ordering the fresh produce from the country, though high flight charges were the main challenge.
