Floriculture is one of the industries facing the devastating effects of climate change, as unpredictable weather patterns, particularly rainfall, drought, destructive pests, and diseases impact the agriculture sector at large, forcing florists and farmers to rethink their approaches.

In the flower industry, for instance, growers are compelled to go for climate-resilient flowers in a bid to maintain Kenya’s primary glory of flowers in the international markets. Kenya is Africa’s leading flower exporter and ranks among the world’s top four exporters of cut flowers. The country supplies more than 35 per cent of the European Union’s rose imports, depicting its dominant position in the global floriculture industry.

Nelly Thuo, the founder of Chalvin Farm Fresh Ltd, has been growing flowers since 2020, a venture she says is a Covid-19-born baby, and when climate shocks are mentioned, she clearly understands what they mean.

What began as a small post-pandemic venture has since evolved into a diversified export business, with eucalyptus emerging as one of the most strategic crops on her farm.

Traditionally known as a forestry tree, eucalyptus is now increasingly being repositioned in the global floriculture market as a foliage product used in bouquets and floral arrangements, particularly in the Middle East and parts of Europe. According to Ms Thuo, the crop has also become a practical response to the growing unpredictability of climate patterns affecting flower production.

“I introduced eucalyptus about two years ago after noticing that many conventional flower varieties were becoming difficult to sustain under erratic rainfall and rising temperatures,” she says.

Unlike most cut flowers, eucalyptus has shown greater tolerance to harsh weather conditions, making it a reliable alternative for export production.

She notes that her farm embraced eucalyptus because it is more resilient to climate variations than many other flowers. “Most flower varieties are highly sensitive to weather changes, but eucalyptus can withstand harsher conditions,” adds the grower.

Today, Chalvin Farm Fresh has about three acres under eucalyptus production, and the crop has become one of the most stable contributors to weekly export volumes.

The farm, according to Nelly Thuo mainly supplies markets in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, where demand for foliage in floral arrangements continues to grow.

The farm exports about 10,000 eucalyptus stems every week, she reveals to ‘Seeds of Gold’, adding that the volume remains relatively stable even during periods when other flower varieties fluctuate due to seasonal or climate pressures.

The eucalyptus success story is part of a broader growth journey for the farm. Before venturing into business, Ms Thuo was employed as an administrator in a Chinese company. However, her connection to floriculture dates back to her childhood in Kinangop, Nyandarua County, where she grew up watching her mother, one of the pioneer flower farmers in the area, rely on flowers to support the family.

“That early exposure shaped my long-term interest in agriculture, which I eventually pursued when coronavirus struck the country in 2020,” she explains.

Chalvin Farm Fresh Limited specialises in summer flowers grown in open fields. With a farm in Kinangop, Nelly says that she started with about one acre of land, but today it has expanded to over 12 acres.

“I began small with a capital investment of about Sh50,000 which covered basic expenses such as labour and other initial costs,” she shares.

When the business started, the farm mainly focused on regiums, craspedias and agapanthus. Over time, it has expanded into more than 10 flower varieties including kangaroo paw, alstroemeria, ruscus, eucalyptus, arabicum and bupleurum, among others.

The growth the farmer has experienced from one acre to more than 12 acres, she says, has been driven by consistency, quality and hard work. Customers require a reliable supply of flowers every week. As demand grows, her company gradually expands production to meet their needs.

Research is also critical. “We continuously engage with buyers to understand their quality requirements because different markets and customers have different standards. Producing flowers that meet those specifications is key to maintaining business relationships.”

Despite the challenges facing the floriculture sector, it continues to demonstrate strong resilience. In 2025, the industry generated Dollars 845 million (approximately Ksh110 billion), contributing about 1.5 per cent of GDP, therefore remaining the largest contributor within horticulture.

The sector supports more than 200,000 direct jobs and sustains over one million livelihoods across farms, logistics chains, cold rooms, air cargo operations and rural economies, with women making up more than 60 per cent of the workforce.

Kenya exports flowers to more than 60 countries globally, with about 70 per cent destined for the European Union.

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swaweru@ke.nationmedia.com