With Flights Grounded, Kenya’s Produce Wilts

Post by Stephanie Wright, Great Decisions student

Article

Europeans aren’t the only ones being affected by the Icelandic ash blocking much of their airspace. Kenya’s cut-flower and gourmet vegetable industry is being compromised by the ash, too. Two million pounds of produce is shipped out of Kenya nightly, with over 80 percent of these goods shipped to Europe, and over a third of that shipped only to Great Britain. Because of the ash, this entire industry has come to a near standstill. All available refrigerated warehouses at the airport in Nairobi have already been filled, waiting for the first chance to be shipped.

The horticulture industry is losing 3 million dollars a day, cutting jobs and growing stressed. All temporary workers and thousands of others have already been let go. Those still employed have little to do but sit and watch millions of flowers wilt and tons of vegetables and fruits go to feed livestock. Owners and managers of plants are becoming more and more worried that their clients, such as European grocery stores, will find other producers because they cannot stock their shelves. The plants are looking to Prime Minister Raila Odinga to help pay for special flights to get the industry moving again. Already a volatile state, Kenya cannot afford to lose more capital in agriculture, the largest sector of its economy.