Kenya flower production dips 30 percent

Kenya sells more than 80 percent of its flower exports to the European Union, with nearly half of those snapped up by British flower lovers.

Kenya's flower production recorded a 30 percent drop in the first nine months of this year because of a severe drought and low demand, an industry official said Thursday.

This year's overall production is expected to drop by 16 percent compared to 2008, said Jane Ngige, the Kenya Flower Council (KFC) chief.

- As per September, production had dropped by 30 percent due to low demand and high cost of doing business, but we hope it will pick up as we head to the festive period - Ngige told reporters.

- We are now targeting 80,000 tonnes of flower exports by the end of the year compared to last year, when we did 93,000 tonnes - she said.

Kenya sells more than 80 percent of its flower exports to the European Union, with nearly half of those snapped up by British flower lovers, a market hard hit by the global economic crisis.

Horticulture is Kenya's third export earner and accounts for some 23 percent of GDP.