Rotting roses in Kenya: Airport closures cost flower farmers $12 million, threaten jobs

Rotting roses in Kenya: Ash closures kill flowers

NAIROBI, Kenya — An official with Kenya’s horticulture industry says 5,000 workers have been temporarily laid off following $12 million in losses due to the cancellation of flights to Europe.

Stephen Mbithi, the chief executive of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, says farmers have been forced to throw away millions of export quality flowers because storage facilities at Kenya’s main airport were filled to capacity.

Up to $12 million in flowers and produce has been lost since Thursday, Mbithi says.

The horticulture industry is Kenya’s top foreign exchange earner. Kenya flowers — mostly roses — account for a quarter of Europe’s cut flower imports.

Airports in Europe shut down last week after an Icelandic volcano begun erupting.