NAIROBI, Kenya – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday announced new government-backed plans to sustain the country’s global floriculture leadership by integrating smallholder farmers and accelerating agri-tech adoption.
Speaking during the opening of the 13th International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) at the Oshwal Centre in Nairobi, Kagwe said Kenya’s flower sector—currently the third-largest exporter of cut flowers globally—must adapt to growing global competition, climate change, and stricter export regulations.
“Kenya is not just in the flower business: we lead it,” said Kagwe. “But we can ill-afford to rest on our laurels.”
The flower industry contributes Kshs. 100 billion annually to the economy, creates over 200,000 direct jobs, and supports more than a million livelihoods, especially in rural areas.
To sustain growth, Kagwe said the government is focusing on:
- Bringing small-scale farmers into floriculture value chains,
- Expanding subsidies to flower growers,
- Scaling up youth training through the Kenya School of Agriculture (KSA),
- And modernizing the sector through drone tech, AI, precision irrigation, and renewable energy.
The CS also revealed that nearly 500 Kenyan students have been placed on UK farms under a seasonal work program, with plans to expand and localize similar training in Kenya’s 10 agricultural campuses.
On regulatory hurdles, Kagwe confirmed that a new compliance protocol—the False Coddling Moth Systems Approach (FCMSA)—had been validated and approved by EU authorities to meet stricter flower import regulations that came into effect in April.
“Technology is the deal maker. And deal-breaker. We must embrace it, or perish,” he said, calling for a shift toward a tech-savvy, youthful workforce.
Kagwe said a whole-of-government approach is underway to resolve policy and trade bottlenecks, with consultations involving Treasury, KRA, Transport Ministry, Kenya Airways, and others.
The International Floriculture Trade Expo draws global buyers and investors and showcases Kenya’s dominance in the cut flower market, exporting to over 60 countries.
