An increase in flower dealers is expected to help lift export volumes of flowers by up to 30 percent this year.
Most Kenyan flowers end up in overseas markets, with Europe accounting for about 60 percent of exports.
Flower farms are diversifying into new markets including those in Russia, Asia and Australia.
A record number of 11 million flower stems have been imported into Australia this year alone from various parts of the world in the last two weeks with a total of 6.5 million flower stems being from Kenya.
With the flower sector hard hit last year when earnings fell due to a weak euro and high production costs, this year the Kenya Flower Council is projecting a 30 percent increase in sales.
This has been buoyed by among others a tremendous increase in local flower dealers.
To increase production, Maasai Flower Farm General Manager Elizabeth Kimani, says they use volcanic ash to support the crop and for nutrients purposes as well.
This is in addition to the use of a computerized irrigation system.
Kenya prides herself as one of the world’s biggest exporters of roses with flowers accounting for about two percent of the country’s GDP and the sector employing about 100,000 people directly, and a further 400,000 indirectly.
With the recent announcement of commencement of direct flights from Nairobi to New York, players in the industry are optimistic of new market opportunities.
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