Two week ago , Valentine ’s Day was celebrated — a peak time of year for many flower growers , particularly rose agriculturalist . Unfortunately , this time of year also brings negative and often misleading newspaper headline , such as ' The Thorny Side of Valentine ’s Day ' , which frequently appear in local media . These tale deeply sadden not only flower growers but also industry organization like the Kenya Flower Council , which has been dedicated to meliorate the sphere and advancing sustainability elbow grease since 1996 .
" The flush diligence today is vastly unlike from 20 eld ago . We ’ve made meaning strides in sustainability , but perhaps we do n’t boost or foreground these achievement as much as we should , " say Clement Tulezi of the Kenya Flower Council .
Clement Tulezi at theIFTF2024 in Vijfhuizen , the Netherlands .
Untrue storiesWhat upsets Tulezi the most are the untrue stories that continue to diffuse — especially around Valentine ’s Day . Once again , claims are emerging that flowers are laden with pesticides or that Kenyan raiser use chemical ban in the EU . " It is plainly not true that agriculturalist in Kenya can use any pesticide they want . We have strict criterion and a regulated list of O.K. pesticide . If a grower fails to comply with these regulation , they are not allow to export their products , " Tulezi explain . " to boot , KFC conducts MRL ( Maximum Residue Level ) checks — something that is standard for fruit and vegetables , but not compulsory for flower . The same level of committedness applies to societal responsibility as well , " he impart .
" There is more judicial use of water , get-up-and-go root , blighter - control products and inorganic fertilisers . Sustainability has become the hallmark of our industry . Today , growers have adopted renewable energy , integrated pest direction systems , dripping irrigation , rain harvesting and water recycling , and re - use of constitutive waste . " explains Tulezi
Growers are adopting systems and tools to measure out all these parameters , supported by KFC ’s Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standard , popularly cognise as KFC Silver .
Also , the KFC have begin pilots on measurement of water system stewardship through Ecotrace App that will help growers on water footprint . " The Council is aiming for final - zero atomic number 6 emissions by 2030 and that every Kenyan bloom is a symbol of planetary maintenance . "
CertificationsAnd these are not just words;the nearly 130 flush - exporting farms , that are member of the Kenya Flower Council , are certified under either the KFC Silver Standard or GlobalGAP . " This control adherence to stringent sustainability and social responsibleness requirements . The strong point of KFC Silver Certification is certify in its stance in the Basket of Standards of the EU - based Floriculture Sustainability Initiative ( FSI ) . "
The KFC standard strongly sits in the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative ( FSI ) Basket of Standards , ticking all boxes – societal , salutary agrarian practice and environment .
Spreading the wordOver the past 15 years , Kenya ’s floriculture industriousness has undergo a remarkable transformation as major investiture have been train at better worker conditions , protecting the environs , and check foresightful - term sustainability . These efforts have not choke unnoticed by buyers and farm visitor , who are often surprised by the progress they witness . Tulezi appreciate the positive reaction , but repent that such advancement still come as a surprise . He believes that the diligence has much to gain from spreading this overconfident news more in effect . " The Kenya Flower Council has focused its resources on producer - orient initiatives . We recognize that more must be done to convey these footstep on the worldwide stage . "
Cornerstone of Kenya ’s economyThe Kenyan floriculture manufacture is far from small , and the numbers talk for themselves . It directly employs over 200,000 the great unwashed , supports another 1.5 million indirectly , and confirm the livelihoods of approximately 4 million individuals , the absolute majority of whom are cleaning lady . " In a country with an unemployment rate of 40 % , the socio - economical impingement of this sector can not be exaggerate . It is a groundwork of Kenya ’s economic system , " says Tulezi .
bear out greater transparence and higher environmental and social standardsThe Kenya Flower Council is eagerly supporting initiative that contribute to the transparency of the manufacture and higher environmental and social standard . Last workweek , they denote that the full support the decision by the French Agency for Food , Environmental , and Occupational Health & Safety ( ANSES ) to investigate pesticide vulnerability among floriculture professionals . " This opening move represents a vital stride toward highlight the progress , sustainability efforts , and transformative investments already achieved by Kenya ’s floriculture industriousness . The recommendations resulting from the ANSES study will cross out an important milepost for the global flower industry . Kenya is eager to play a conduce theatrical role in the move toward greater transparence and higher environmental and societal touchstone , as these align with the values and ambition of our industry . "
" We also emphasize the critical part that logistics providers , wholesaler , and retailers must play in this journeying . florist , as the trust link between growers and consumers , are uniquely put to defend sustainable blossom and enhance public confidence in the cut flower sphere . strengthen this trust is not just good — it is essential for the continued achiever of the industry . "
Kenya Flower Council remains attached to certify that the country ’s flowers are not only beautiful , but also responsibly grown and ethically produce . " We wait onward to engaging with ANSES , industriousness stakeholders , and policymakers to ensure the findings of this subject lead to meaningful , actionable issue for all . "
For more data : Kenya Flower Council[email protected]kenyaflowercouncil.org
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
