Since the exit of Britain from the European economic and political bloc, the EU, the United Kingdom has already begun trading pacts with African countries, one of the foremost being Kenya, especially regarding the export market of fresh produce.
By Brexit terms, the UK has to renegotiate its former trading pacts with a host of major partners in the African continent in a period of 24 months, starting the day of severing homogenous ties with the EU. This is a boon for Kenya fresh produce like Kenya avocados, Kenya mangos, kenya beans, and Kenya peas, at a time when the East African nation tallies Britain as its fourth biggest export destination, and the second among European nations. Currently, most exports from Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret international airports and shipping facilities, of which fresh produce, like cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables constitute a bulk margin, go to countries including Uganda, the Netherlands, United States and Britain.
The chief reason for putting an impetus on these trading negotiations of which the Principal Secretary of International Trade in Kenya, Chris Kiptoo is leading, is to stultify the already hiking export market for grain, legumes and cut flowers. For instance, official statistics from 2016 via an Economic Survey report showed that Kenya exported about KSH40.6b to the UK, almost a third of all EU-bound goods from the East African nation. Realistically though, the total pie of the British hold on Kenya imports stands at about 1/4 of the entire EU import context.
The major crops that are a windfall for the mutual trade between the two countries include carnations, roses and others cut flowers, besides cowpeas, french beans, and the perennial favorites like arabica coffee and highland tea.
Through this currency of renegotiated deals in the footfalls of Brexit, many African states including Kenya may find some modern solutions for past stalled deals that may be resuscitated under fresh terms. According to the Guardian newspaper in an article published in 2016, the European Union used to be the number one source for vegetables and fruits inbound to Britain as farmers and groceries sourced from farming nations like the Netherlands. However, the exit from the EU earmarked a new beginning with now Britain facing more to the south, with a third of food importers getting ready to ratify treaties with new sources. Of these about-turning importers, 38 percent said they would definitely opt for Africa.
It might be a feast of a repast if one were to follow up-to-date tables of fruit and vegetable sourcing data within the UK. Statistics for 2016 showed that the UK had a mere self-sustenance degree of just below 60 percent for vegetables and just 11 percent for fruits. This, experts touted, is owing to popularity of tropical fruits not available in the UK’s harsh weather, including pineapples and avocados, as well as watermelon.
This, even as Kenya gets into gear to make do with fresh deals with its second-leading export partner in the European market, it is all eyes on Kenya fresh produce exporters like Selina Wamucii and their family growers.