As European countries deal with the fourth day of disruptions and cancellations of flights due to the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Kenya is feeling the effects of the volcano is an unexpected way.
Kenya, which exports roses, “…beans, sugar snap peas and other vegetables” to Europe, is finding its exportable crops in danger of rotting before they can be shipped. According to the BBC, “Agriculture is the East Africa nation’s largest export sector, employing hundreds of thousands of people.”
Because the closure of European airspace has prevented deliveries of Kenya’s goods, thousands of workers have been laid off and Kenya’s economy is losing $3 million per day.
“The pickers are not picking. The washers are not washing. Temporary workers have been told to go home because refrigerated warehouses at the airport are stuffed with ripening fruit, vegetables and flowers, and there is no room for more until planes can come and take away the produce. Already, millions of roses, lilies and carnations have wilted.”
While Kenya’s economy is directly impacted, the food supply in Europe is not expected to suffer significantly. According to Businessweek, Arden Partner’s analyst Nick Bubb declared, “It’s certainly a crisis for the flower growers in Kenya, but at this stage the macro impacts on food retailing are very marginal.”
Posted by Michael Lucivero.