April 16, 2010, Nairobi, Kenya – An
official with Kenya’s horticulture industry says 5,000 workers have been
temporarily laid off following $12 million in losses due to the
cancellation of
flights to Europe.
April 16, 2010, Nairobi, Kenya – An
official with Kenya’s horticulture industry says 5,000 workers have been
temporarily laid off following $12 million in losses due to the cancellation of
flights to Europe.
Stephen Mbithi, the chief executive
of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, says farmers have been
forced to throw away millions of export quality flowers because storage
facilities at Kenya’s main airport were filled to capacity.
Up to $12 million in flowers and
produce has been lost since Thursday, Mbithi says.
The horticulture industry is Kenya’s
top foreign exchange earner. Kenya flowers – mostly roses – account for a
quarter of Europe’s cut flower imports.
Airports in Europe shut down last
week after an Icelandic volcano begun erupting.
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