{ HORTIFAIR KENYA }

Presenting opportunities for growth through Horticulture

FPEAKs regionally based horticultural exhibitions have come a long way from their establishment in 2001. This all inclusive event has evolved to become the foremost horticultural event targeting all horticulture stakeholders in the country, across all segments. It has become the home of relevant, timely information, a forum for exchange and dialogue among stakeholders and the general public, and a useful resource tool for policy makers. Service providers have used the events to expand their business among producers, who have in turn benefited from free marketing and production consultancy during the fairs.

The history of Hortfair Kenya dates back to March 2001, when the inaugural fair was held at the Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi. The event saw 3000 farmers attend stands mounted by 35 exhibitors, and took the form of an exclusive trade fair. The following year, a repeat event was held at the same location, and again in Mach, 2003. This one was attended by over 4000 visitors.

By the turn of the millennium, the Kenyan Horticultural industry was experiencing phenomenal growth, fueled by a booming world economy and expanding consumer awareness. By 2005, Kenyan production had spread across most parts of the country. With this growth came massive challenges of information dissemination on marketing, production and compliance to increasingly stringent consumer demands. More players were entering the industry and required the information and services available in Hortifair. FPEAK realized that a large number of producers were not being reached by Hortifair and a decision was made to decentralize the event, increase the frequency, and target production areas, so as to reach as many producers as possible. Consequently, in 2005 through to 2006, four events were held, starting in Eldoret, and subsequently Mwea, Nyahururu, and Machakos. In 2007, repeat shows were held in Mwea, and Eldoret. In total, more than 17,000 farmers have been reached. ‘Hortifair Kenya’ has acquired national status and remains Kenya’s foremost horticultural event, a must go for all with an interest in Kenyan Horticulture.

FPEAK is a members association, dedicated to the welfare and enhancement of members business activities, through lobbying, information and marketing support, and promotion of members compliance to International standards. As stated in its strategic Plan commissioned in 2004, one of its major objectives is the dissemination of information to enable the membership and the general horticultural community achieves high levels of proficiency, and thus enables Kenya to maintain its global status as a top horticultural producing nation. This is in light of the emerging international standards in production and food safety, occasioned by increased consumer awareness among other global concerns. Hortifair Kenya is thus perhaps the most important tool with which FPEAK executes this objective.

The secret behind Hortifairs success is its guiding philosophy of collaboration with industry players that is geared to the mutual benefit of all. This has been achieved through several strategies; designing the event to attract as many potential clients for goods and services presented during the event, increasing the profile of the event in the public domain through a well planned media campaign, offering targeted seminar and training sessions and inviting resource persons on pertinent topics, and facilitating government policy makers to dialogue with industry stakeholders. The event is also geared towards self sustainability through a sound financial strategy based on charging for participation, and collaborating with financial partners. In this regard, FPEAK has been fortunate to have the sponsorship of BSMDP, the Barclays Bank, and Agriterra, during different occasions.

The season of 2007-2008 has been a particularly exciting one for Hortifair. FPEAK entered into collaboration with Kenya Federation of Agricultural Producers to mount the repeat event in Eldoret, dubbed ‘Eldoret 07’, on November 8th and 9th of 2007. As a run up to the event, several stakeholders meetings had been held with the horticultural community in the area, and a massive media campaign involving the local vernacular stations was undertaken. These pre-event activities were aimed at defining the major issues of concern to horticultural farmers in the North Rift and western region of Kenya, and thus find ways of addressing these concerns during the hortifair event itself. This strategy bore fruit, as three major issues were determined: marketing, finance, and product diversification. Resource persons were identified to deal with these issues, considering the region is at a crossroads, as more farmers were being encouraged to enter the industry so as to tap the regions enormous potential. Of particular interest was the establishment of the local international airport as a port of exit to the Middle East and Europe, thus opening up vast opportunities for export horticulture from the region.

In the end, 39 exhibitors presented goods and services to over 5,000 visitors from as far as Suba and Kisii Districts in Nyanza, and the fertile high altitude Uasin Gishu and Bungoma districts. Over 100 farmers groups attended, representing fruits, vegetables, and flowers producing groups, as well as dairy and grain farmers. The seminar program involved government agencies such as Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Airports Authority, as well as financial services providers among others. The two day event was capped by an evening dinner hosted in honor of the local business community, represented by the local Chamber of Commerce. The well attended meeting concluded the successful Hortifair Eldoret 07 with a moving speech given by the Manager of Eldoret Airport. In the speech, he declared the Kenyan North Rift and Western region to be the next world leader in horticulture and Kenya’s answer to an emerging Ethiopian competition. This marked a definite turning point for horticultural mobilization in the hitherto largely skeptical farming region.

Hortifair Central 2008

Preamble
Kenyas Horticultural stakeholders headed to Central Province for their annual specialized training and exhibition event dubbed HORTIFAIR KENYA, on 25th and 26th April. This year the event was held at the National Cereals and Produce Board stores at KIGANJO, situated about 15 km East of Nyeri Town, on the foothills of Mt. Kenya. This region has a well established horticultural industry, going back several decades. It is currently home to the largest number of export green pea’s farmers in Kenya, and is an important source of local fruits and vegetables consumed in urban centers and other parts of the country. Indeed, the open air fresh produce market at Karatina is reputed to be one of the largest in Africa! Read more about it