Businesses dealing in horticulture exports recorded a remarkable recovery following the expansion of cargo space to key destinations in Europe.
The Ministry of Trade, on August 5 announced that export revenue hit Ksh81 billion in the first six months compared to Ksh 76 billion within the same period in 2019.
The ministry stated that earnings from fruits grew from Ksh 7 billion to Ksh12 billion.
The increase in revenue was attributed to governments in Europe which urged their citizens to consume more fruits and vegetables to boost their immunity amidst Covid-19.
Despite a decline in the volume of exports, Kenyan products fetched better prices due to a global shortage.
On the other hand, flowers, which are considered a luxury, did not have much demand during the pandemic period.
This is despite a gesture by President Uhuru Kenyatta, when he sent flowers to UK doctors to boost sales.
The flowers were distributed to those in the frontline of combating the pandemic including health workers and recovering patients and in care homes in a campaign dubbed Flowers For Hope.
The agriculture sector is also likely to recover quickly from the impact of Covid-19 since consumption of food was not severely affected.
With travel and social distancing measures in place, mobile communication platforms, e-commerce sites and “home comfort” services will be the biggest beneficiaries of the pandemic.
Other sectors which are likely to bounce back include the education sector because learning is a vital necessity and schools are likely to adopt remote tutoring.
Healthcare and wellness centres could also experience quick recovery as people try to shed off weight gained during the pandemic as others fully embrace fitness exercises which they have been trying at home.
The growth of ecommerce is also expected to boost delivery and logistic service providers.
