Transcript A view of voluntary standards from Africa

Kenya’s horticulture sub-sector:
A view of voluntary standards
from Africa
Panel session on
Company specifications, international standards and
national regulations
Tuesday, 4th November 2008
(10 am to 1 pm )
PRESENTATION
CONTENT
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Grown under the SUN
Background on Kenya’s
Horticulture
Challenges of stds & How
Kenya is addressing them
Conclusion
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POSITION OF KENYA
WORLD
AFRICA
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A. BACKGROUND ON KENYA’S HORTICULTURE
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The World (2007) GDP was $ 54.3 trillion (185
countries) and population of 6.6 billion (207 countries).
Kenya = ranked 34 with 37.531 million population and
ranked 79 with GDP of $29.509 billion.
Kenya unlike many African States is not endowed with
minerals, thus relies mainly on Agriculture as the
driver of the economy.
Agriculture contributes 24% of Kenya’s GDP, of which
Horticulture contributes 13% of Agricultural GDP.
Agriculture plays a major role in the realization of the
Millennium Development Goals (Esp. MDG 1, on
poverty reduction).
Employs about 80% of the Population.
Horticultural exports is no.1 foreign exchange earner.
HORTICULTURE SUB-SECTOR OVERVIEW
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Kenya has good reputation for supplying high
quality horticultural produce.
Kenya (2007) exported over 403,000 tons of
horticultural produce valued at over KShs. 57
Billion (over $ 900 million), over 95 % to the EU.
Less than 10% of all horticultural production is
exported, the rest is consumed locally.
The sub-sector employs directly and indirectly
millions of persons (some estimates put it at over
four million), majority of whom are women.
Horticulture is considered one of the economic
pillars in agriculture under Vision 2030
(innovative and commercially oriented) and
provides food security.
Horticultural Exports – Volume
& Value in KShs
(KShs102 = 1 Euro)
Avocado Sorting
& Grading
Pack-house Grading
of Vegetables
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Challenges of market access
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Multiple levies
Multiple audits.
Interception of produce in the international
market.
Accreditation of strategic facilities for market
access.
Lack of awareness on market requirements.
Limited number of farmer centres offering
specific training and information.
Various issues related to good agricultural
practices.
B. Challenges of stds & How Kenya is addressing them
The
EU markets in the last 10 years has
been characterized with rapid evolution
of legislations and market standards.
The
EU regulations are actually related
to market standards on issues such as
traceability, MRLs, pests.
This
has meant adjustment of national
systems both public and private to be able
to ensure competitiveness of Kenya’s
horticultural produce.
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Summary of strategies to deal with stds
This can be summarized in six headings:
i.
Capacity building of human resources and
equipment
ii.
Accreditation of business support facilities e.g.
KEPHIS, Africert
iii.
Awareness creation, information sharing &
dissemination and developing common
strategies
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Risk assessment and development of systems to
deal with risk
v.
Domestication of international stds, codes of
practices and regulations e.g. KenyaGAP
vi.
Market diversification e.g. to USA, Japan, Dubai
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The Government’s Motivations to support stds
To
protect and sustain market access for Kenyan
horticultural products to high value international markets.
Export
to these markets would provide economic
benefits to Kenya’s small-scale producers i.e. secured or
even enhanced revenues.
Association
with internationally recognized standard
would also help to sustain its international reputation, It
would make Kenya’s produce to be like a brand.
Would address good agricultural practice, but also
health & safety, environmental and social practices, and
help improve these in Kenya.
Will help sustain Kenya's international reputation as a
producer of quality products, and thus the market for its
products = BRAND KENYA.
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Current Status of Stds
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In the recent future ( 2 to 3 years), Kenya’s horticultural
exports to the international market have been
characterized by rapid growth of certified growers.
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In 2007, 606 were recognized certified suppliers with
EurepGAP/GlobalGAP certification with over 180
recorded interceptions related to SPS related nonconformances mostly due to quarantine pest especially
Helicoverpa.
An estimated 2200 growers certified for GlobalGAP under
option one and two (64 farmers groups under option two).
Domestic awareness on KenyaGAP standard is on high
gear, with a certain supermarket (with 10 million euros
turnover related to horticultural sales) in Kenya
implementing it on farms they collect produce from.
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C. CONCLUSION
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Although the government’s role has been facilitative it
has recognized the need to participate actively where
necessary on issues of markets standards as it borders
on reduced incomes by our growers, hence the setting
of structures such as National Taskforce on
Horticulture to open level platforms for discussions
related to specific issues such as MRLs, traceability,
interceptions due to pests, food miles and others have
brought positive growths to these sub-sector and
common strategies/understanding.
Issues related to modernization of regulations have not
be strongly handled during these phase although
meetings to discuss relevant regulations e.g. revision of
the Agriculture Produce [Export] Act, CAP 319 plus the
HCDA order 2006 have received attention and will
improve how market standards are handled and
managed.
CONCLUSION
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Lets not forget issues that will affect how
horticulture will be done, despite the fact
that there will be markets to sell these
produce, there may not be enough water to
assure continued production. Prudent use
of water, new ways to send products,
management of the environment and
manpower management issues is the key
to sustainance of these markets for a
country like Kenya.
THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING TO
THIS PRESENTATION
For more information contact:
MANAGING DIRECTOR, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
& CHAIRMAN, National Taskforce on Horticulture
P.O. Box 49592-00100, Nairobi
Tel: 0722-516221; 0734-874141
Fax: 254-020-3536175
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kephis.org
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