EurepGAP has announced the approval of the KenyaGAP benchmarked standard, developed by the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Association of Kenya (FPEAK) for fruit, vegetables and flowers.
“We developed KenyaGAP to enable Kenyan exporters access to the lucrative EU market,” said Dr Stephen Mbithi, FPEAK chief executive. “The standard, which is equivalent to EurepGAP, takes into consideration farming techniques employed by small-scale farmers in the country.”
EurepGAp chairman Nigel Garbutt said: “We congratulate FPEAK on this significant achievement. Kenya acts as a role model for the region in pushing towards global harmonisation of Good Agricultural Practice in Africa, and demonstrates how it is possible to incorporate smallholder needs into EurepGAP.”
The launch of KenyaGAP coincides with FPEAK’s 30th anniversary celebrations, when the Kenyan industry reflects on the milestones achieved in the last three decades and look to the future.
Horticultrual exports accounted for 49 billion Ksh (£365m) in 2006, making it the second-highest income earner after tourism and registering the highest growth in the agricultural sector, at 14 per cent. There are around 500,000 producers in the country, 80 per cent small and medium scale, and the sector employs over four million people directly and indirectly.
