The push for smallholder flower farmers enters into auctions
The push for smallholder flower farmers to enter into auctions that have remained a domain of medium and larger growers got a shot in the arm following the launch of a credit facility administered by Equity Bank and the Kenya Horticulture Competitiveness Project (KHCP).
Through Wilmar Agro Ltd,-a consortium of smallholder growers- some 40 farmers in Nyeri and Kiambu counties will access the Ksh 3.9 million ($48,750) pilot credit facility to help them to expand flower production and improve quality.
“The funds will enable farmers to procure improved technologies such as shade nets, drip irrigation systems, soil analysis, improved varieties, and other farm inputs”, KHCP said in a joint communiqué with Equity Bank.
At the moment, Wilmar is shipping 120 boxes of flowers weekly to the US, whose market potential for Kenya is expected to grow.
Research conducted by Wilmar on suitable varieties for smallholder production is leading to increasing competitiveness at the auctions where specialized products for blending bouquets are in high demand.
The the recently introduced Mollucela, a summer flower variety produced by smallholders in the two counties is reported to have taken the markets by storm.
Attempts to introduce the flower in 2009 failed when the variety proved difficult to grow in the open field due to high disease resulting from heavy rainfall.
To tackle the challenge, KHCP has introduced a technological package, which includes a greenhouse tunnel, drip irrigation, soil analysis and integrated pest management. Eight research and demonstration units have been set up and the first flowers were harvested this month in Sagana, Nyeri County.
“The quality has been excellent with a total of 828 stems harvested from just two beds, earning one farmer Ksh10, 800 ($135). The flowers were packed and air-freighted to the Dutch auction where they are enjoying good prices,” said Wilmar managing director Wilfred Kamami, who says the prevailing earnings are a premium of Ksh13.50 per stem.
By CATHERINE RIUNGU
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I am growing Moby Dick flowers in Mois Bridge area. I need help in marketing the stems. I am also eager to start growing Mollucela in the same area, could get contacts of the people or organizations that can help me?
My name is Gladys and my Company is Magnate Flowers Ltd.
I have a wide market of Summer Flowers and I have many small scale farmers where I have grouped them according to areas and the type of Flowers they grow.I can assist you to market all your flowers in the world Market - The Auction in the Netherlands.
I deal with many types of Summer flowers including the mobydick and Moluccella and many others. Please contact me on Tel:0722 777 051, 0721655206,Email:sales@magnateflowers.com, magnateflowers@gmail.com
Am a farmer in nyahururu and am really interested in growing summer flowers in particular i have seen mobydick growing wildly so this is what i need is advice on why i can find some good certified seeds and also abt the challenges just before i venture into the business
I want to start growing flowers in my area, could help me the kind of weather which is suitable for summer flowers and other. i prefer to acquire a land southern part of Tanzania, which is semi-hot and a bit co;d to temp degree up to 17 centigrade in June, July and August is area suitable to establish this farming?
can someone tell me more about the frowers that are grown by farmers in Kagio area [ they are calling these flowers tunisia am in uk .The company thats is helping the fermers with this new project i would like to get in touch with them.I need the pictures that will show me the flowers.Nairobi ,Sagana ,Kagio road thats where yoy will find kagio
hi , i would like to grow mobidick on muhoroni area between kisumu and kericho,where do i get the seedlings,the market to sell and when do I grow them? my phone no 0711589212
Hii i would like to start farming by growing flowers .specifically mobydick .in either mount elgon or kitale.plz can i get information(advice)where can one attend training? when should one grow.can i get any company that helps farmer within the two places.my phone no 0720-780101. kind regards.
Hi I'm Regional Manager with Wilmar Flowers. We deal with Summer flowers. We wide market. If interested contact me on 0721108910. E-mail: servitorinvest@yahoo.com