Making Kenyan Horticulture the Global Choice

INVESTING IN ENERGY SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRIFOOD SECTOR-

THE KENYAN HORTICULTURE SECTOR PERSPECTIVE.

23rd -24Th November 2017, FAO Headquarters

By O. Ojepat & S. Karongo

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KENYAN HORTICULTURE, AT A GLANCE

• Horticulture is the second highest earner in Kenya after tea.

• Over 500,000 growers and nearly 500 exporters are

engaged in the horticulture sub-sector

• About 1.5 million people are directly employed while

another 4.5 million are directly or indirectly dependent on

horticulture

• 95% of horticultural produce is traded domestically

• Large Scale -Small scale linkages is a driving force while

Standards Compliance is a Marketing strength.

• There is an emergence of strong collaboration between

government agencies and producer associations

Making Kenyan Horticulture the Global Choice

Value in the horticulture sector in 2015 amounted to

Kshs. 305 Billion (local & Export)

Total value of exports was USD 1Billion (Khs 102

Billion) exported in 2016

Kenyan Horticulture, At A Glance Cont’

Making Kenyan Horticulture the Global Choice

Challenges Facing Investment In

Renewable Energy

Large number of Smallholder farmers in the

sector

Low capital base to invest in energy initiatives.

High investment costs for the small scale users

Inadequate skills & Technology on renewable

energy management and opportunities

Limited infrastructure for enhanced access

Limited facilitative legislation

Renewable Energy Initiative;

The Kenyan Perspective

Enactment of legislation to promote renewable energy

(Solar energy) was done in 2012 leading to energy

regulations

Kenya has continued to focus on creating better

environment and opportunity for renewable energy

through several proposed energy Bills

Barriers to Investment in the value

chain

Unsuitable prevailing marketing structure

Limited awareness on the existence of technologies

Lack of incentives to pay for quality milk (grades)

Inadequate enforcement of laws governing milking

marketing

High investments costs on the technologies

Non existent business model to enhance financing

Inconsistent milking production through the year

Making Kenyan Horticulture the Global Choice