Arusha — While Arusha flower farmers are contemplating their next move after the recent losses from floods that devastated their farms, the Kenya horticultural sector reports loss of about KSh. 1 billion ( about $ 16m) after the recent chaos which followed disputed presidential election results.

Half of the loss was direct cost through failure to export the fresh produce to markets abroad while the remainder was indirect loss occassioned by non-delivery of inputs to the farms.

Dr. Stephen Mbithi, the chief executive of Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, however, says the fast growing sector would bounce back after the political situation in the country returns to normal.

According to him, Kenya exported horticultural produce worth $ 1.1 bn (KSh. 70bn) last year and that there was no likelihood that exports for this year would be less than last year's.

Dr. Mbithi, who was in Arusha last week for the second Tanzania national horticultural stakeholders' meeting, said 55 per cent of horticultural exports were cut flowers while 45 per cent were fruits and vegetables.

Large commercial farms, many of them established in recent years to cultivate flowers, accounted for 55 per cent of all the exports.

Small scale farmers contributed 45 per cent of the horticultural exports, he told reporters at the end of the two-day meeting.

Kenya is one of the leading horticultural exporters in the world and account for 35 per cent of roses sold in the European market.

Most of the horticultural exports from Tanzania to markets abroad are made through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport due to lack of dedicated cargo flights to Arusha, the hub of the country's horticultural sector.

According to Geofrey Kirenga, an assistant director (extension services) in Tanzania's ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, horticultural produce exports from Tanzania currently amounts to about $ 150m.

About one third of the exports are made by members of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), an Arusha-based body formed in 2004 to promote the sector.

Besides cut flowers, fruits and vegetables, other horticultural products are, cuttings, seeds, spices, herbs and related products.