Thousands of farm worker are on the verge of losing their jobs due to closure on sell of ' non - essential ' items by supermarkets and florist shop during the lockdown in France , Kenya Flower Council reports .
Second lockdown in FranceOn Friday , France began its 2d lockdown in just seven month in a nationwide endeavor to hold in the country ’s renewed surge in Covid-19 character . The lockdown is carry to last until at least December 1 , and come in on the hound of a recent hike in French Covid-19 cases , which on Friday totaled almost 1.3 million since the start of the pandemic . While the French are – likewise to the first lockdown - urged to stay as isolated in their homes as potential during this flow , there are also differences .
Florists view as as ' non - essential’Prime Minister Jean Castex annunciate on Sunday that supermarket would be ordered to conclude surgical incision that deal ' non - indispensable ' items during lockdown . The phase modulation ordered that clothes shop class , florist , toy workshop and jewellers which are deemed ' non - essential ' , will no longer be on sales event in supermarkets from Tuesday this workweek .
France is one of the independent markets for Kenyan fresh produceThe European Union is Kenya ’s principal market place in horticultural exportation produce with the UK , Netherlands and France being the main grocery store with the UK and France being the chief markets for fresh produce from the land , according to the Horticultural Crops Directorate ( HCD ) . In terms of proportion , Kenya exports the big volume of its thinned flowers to the Netherlands , then the United Kingdom , Germany , and France severally .
Kenya ’s exportation of weakened flush and bud to France was € $ 6.36 million during 2018 , according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on outside trade .
Kenyan flower industriousness employs over 200,000 directlyIn 2016 , the two body politic sign on Sh28.7bn ( € 250 million ) trade traverse infrastructure projects to encourage French importers to work nearly with Kenyan exporter to hike up Kenyan exportation to France . The flower exportation industry ranks among the top for foreign exchange earners for Kenya and employs over 200,000 flat on the flower farm , while over 1 million mass gain indirectly from this industry .
affect first lockdownThe industriousness was adversely bear on by the first lockdown in Europe between March and August . Demand for flowers drop as flower shop class around the ball shut . Millions of stems were destroyed at the farm which resulted in a huge loss for the grower . accordingly , farm reduced remuneration and men , used minimal nebulizer and fertigation , and put some plant and varieties on rest for weeks till the need picked up .
Now : monger already reduce orders , auction prices down 20%As countries have in the last four months step by step lifted the lockdowns and ease restrictions , demand for cut - flowers has been break up up in most finish . However , the on-going secondlockdown in Europe will definitely gnaw at gains made by the submarine sandwich - sector as set it back downhill . Traders have already boil down their orders and prices on the auction have shed by 20 % .
Urge to arise restrictionsThe flower industry urges the Kenyan government to urgently engage the Gallic government to lift these restrictions to safeguard jobs for thousands of workers who are potential to be the first casualties . The Kenya Flower Council is a Kenyan Business Membership Organization representing the interest of growers , exporters and others actors in the swing - flower and ornamental supply Sir Ernst Boris Chain .
For more information : Kenya Flower CouncilSuite 12 , 4th Floor , The Greenhouse Building , Adams Arcade , along Ngong RoadMobile : ( 254 ) ( 0)733 639 523[email protected]kenyaflowercouncil.org
