ProFound’s sister company in Kenya Green Rhino witnessed much progress in 2019.
Training of the Jarine team on value of HGC to aggregators (Green Rhino 2019)
Kenyan food safety: the core of Green Rhino activities
We finalised activities under SNV’s ‘Kenya Market-led Horticulture Programme (HortIMPACT)’. Working hard on demand and supply side factors to improve food safety issues in Kenya. We organised Producer-Farmer and Consumer Focus Group discussions concerning our focus products tomatoes and leafy vegetables. Moreover, the 3 pilots on food safety protocols with a producer group, a processor, a supermarket and restaurant chain continued.
SNV published a report on the projects, named HortIMPACT – The Story 2015-2019. Dutch Embassy First Secretary, Mrs Sanne Willems, mentions in the report that:
“HortIMPACT was successful encouraging private sector companies to work differently, take certain risks and do more in terms of reaching out to SME farmers, specifically those active in horticulture, willing to go for quality and get better access to markets. The project did not subsidise the new services carried out by its private sector partners, but the development of these services, a crucial element to the sustainability of businesses. Looking at the future, there is still a need for more systemic change in food safety, market access and the reduction of food losses. Moreover, changes in the climate and water availability will continue to influence the production of safe food. The Netherlands, therefore, commits to continue working in the horticulture sector, be it through our trade support, research, policy-influencing programmes and climate-focused development programmes”.
Preparation for sample collection; Green Rhino team, Instaveg, SNV representative
Water sample collection from a canal in Kirinyaga
New project towards better kenyan food safety in 2020
Green Rhino stays committed to this same purpose. The NGO is expanding on the earlier pilots to mainstream food-safe produce in Kenyan markets and step up efforts to engage regional and international trade. Besides engaging with climate smart agriculture initiatives, Green Rhino has recently partnered with ProFound. The work is a mapping exercise of the Kenyan Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Sector for Dutch Government Agency CBI. The aim is to assess opportunities for cooperation with initiatives which can be supported by CBI mission. CBI wants to contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth in Kenya. How? By connecting SMEs in the FFV sector to the European market.
This activity will continue in 2020. Therefore, the activity includes an opportunity study in which Green Rhino and ProFound will advise CBI on potential synergies for its export development services.