Transcript Kenya Flower Industry – Oserian Farm, Naivasha

Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
Dutch owned firm in Kenya
Issues -
Jobs
Social costs
Diversification
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
Oserian make efforts to show the
positive effect they have on Kenya.
They boast connections with the
Geothermal power plant (which
provides 25% of Kenya’s power).
They claim to have part-funded the
plant.
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
The industry is not always what it’s made out to be. It can
be seen as:
• De-skilling (reverse of development).
• People are made to work long hours for poor wages.
Kenya’s minimum wage is below the African average so
paying the minimum wage is not a huge achievement.
• Maternity leave is poor compared with other African
regions, so female workers struggle.
• Employment is mainly on a casual basis.
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
Oserian’s funding can create dependency. If Oserian
pulled out, it would be a disaster for the country.
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
150,000 people live on the shore of lake Naivasha as
many people migrated to the area for work and water.
Irrigation from Lake Naivasha often creates water
shortages for these people.
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
Fair Trade – farmers are given a fair price.
Free Trade – Tariffs (import and export taxes) are
removed.
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
Kenya has low taxes with export to Europe. This
encourages trade (called liberalisation).
Unfortunately, this means that companies like Oserian
can grow large. They claim ‘free trade’ and labels to state
this are added at source.
Kenya Flower Industry –
Oserian Farm, Naivasha
“Tescos have worked hard with Kenyan farms to provide
not only work, but a better lifestyle for Kenyan farmers.”