Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:39:52 -0800 [02/16/2009 06:39:52 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: KENYA EARNS KSHS 40 BILLION FROM HER EXPORTS OF CUT FLOWERS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

KENYA EARNS KSHS 40 BILLION FROM HER EXPORTS OF CUT FLOWERS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

Business News By Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya’s flower exports mainly to Europe rose by almost three percent to 93,000 tones earning the country Kshs.40 billion in the mean score foreign exchange .And

even then this is a lower take than Kshs. 43 billion registered by the industry in 2007 largely on the back of currency fluctuations and higher production costs.

The rise in export was despite the post election violence that hit the country in early 2008, and will be good news as the industry worms up to valentine day which is traditionally its biggest pay day.

Surprisingly this years exports were highest at the height of post elections violence that arose out of a disputed presidential election result.

Export rose from 8,500 tones in January 2008 to 10,00 tones at the end of February 2008, the highest export volume recorded that year according to figures released recently by the Kenya Horticulture council. The council said that exporter were preparing to take advantage of the frenzied days leading up to valentine day and Mothers Day.

Valentine day is celebrated on February 14 while Mothers Day is marked on various day in different countries in the United Kingdom it ells exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday, while in the US it is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May.

“We see growers very busy serving orders, Kenya Horticultural Council CEO Jane Ngige told newsmen in Nairobi

We expect to perform as before to satisfy both domestic and international customers demand are added.

Cut flower exporters were hit by high fuel prices last year. Diesel pump prices doubled from Kshs.58 a liter to Kshs.104 in 2008 while petrol prices went up from Kshs 69 a liter to Kshs.107 during the same period.

Ms Ngigi said that affects of the global financial crisis would affect the flower industry met the council experts demand for flowers to grow although at flower speed.

The CEO said that studies on global consumer behavior indicate that consumers have reduced travel and were eating more at home. This mean they also buy a bunch of flowers to lighten up houses which they have to stay in for a longer time said Ngigi.

Flower farming is the number two foreign exchange earner after remittance from the Diaspora.

Kenya is also the heading cut flowers and ornamental supplier to the European Union market with 35 per cent

To survive in the competitive market , the CEO said the council that developed protective such as hypercems flowers which now controls 37 per centrols Japanese market.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

THE CHINESE BATTERY MAKER IS TO BE SUED OVER COWS POISONING DEATHS

By leo odera omollo

A Kenyan farming family whose cows died after grazing on contaminated pastures has moved to court to fill a legal verdict civil suit against a Chinese battery manufacturing company for 200,000 compensation and damage.

Ms Esther Wanjiru a farmer in Nakuru district ,Rift Valley Province blames the Chinese company Xhuang Hui international Kenya ltd had refused to compensate her family for the loss three top diary cows and a calf which died a few days after grazing on grass contaminated with lead.

She accused the company of dumping the industrial waste which was then swept into her one acre grazing field by the rains .

When the animal died ,the carcasses were then taken to a veterinary surgeon operating a private clinic in Nakuru town for a postmortem examination.

A medical analysts was later carried out at the university of Nairobi faculty of veterinary medicine by dr. James Mboria who confirmed the cows had died of lead poisoning.

The high yielding top dairy died while undergoing treatment for lead poisoning at the same zero grazing dairy unit at Kamaungi area of Nakuru district and we have confirmatory diagnosis of lead poisoning based on symptoms laboratory samples analysis and postmortem findings , said the reporter .

The soil and blood samples were found to contain lead level of 64,070 ppm and 2,292 ppm respectively

“based on the history symptoms ,laboratory analyses and postmortem findings it was concluded that the was an assurance of sub-acute lead poisoning and the source of the lead was industrial waste from Xhiang Hui battery manufacturing company ,said dr Mborra

And me Wanjiru the former said a driver at the battery company who lives in the area had in October last year “ignorantly” dumped the industrial waste in a bid to patch a section of the road which become almost impossible during season.

“we were as happy that our neighbour had decided to seal the roads as it was impassable during the rainy season .we all thought he was using rocks ,little knowing that this would have disastrous effect of wiping out my entire herds of cattle said a tearful ms Wanjiku

If the matter ends up in court this would be the first care of life kind in Kenya’s judicial history.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com