Over the years, Ufadhili Trust has been working with businesses to inspire and encourage companies to increase the quality and extent of their contribution to sustainable development by making responsible business practices an integral part of business excellence.
In 2021, with the support of Women Win, through its Building Bridges for Women’s Economic Empowerment (BBWEE) programme, Ufadhili Trust facilitated a learning visit to Tambuzi roses flower farms in Nanyuki, Kenya for ten flower farms including small-holder and women-led flower farms.
The visit aimed at offering practical learning experiences how they can improve on their farms operations as well as making their businesses more sustainable. Tambuzi roses farms; including Mount Kenya Alstroemeria farm, are a woman-owned, and one of the leading farms on issues of sustainable flower farming in Kenya; and grow both roses and summer flowers. Among the farms visiting Tambuzi included, Rika farm and Pamoja flowers; two small-holder, family/women-owned farms.
After the visit, Rika farm representatives noted that, they gained skills and knowledge on growing and handling of summer flowers. Consequently, the farm was able to reduce the number of rejected stems, and enabled them to secure a supply contract, thereby accessing a wider market; one of the major challenges facing small-holder flower farms in Kenya. On its part, Carol Gachanja from Pamoja flowers, increased knowledge on how to manage a flower farm and was able to establish/improve on the operations at her farm located in Nyandarua County.
The outcomes are importance in that, increases the voice and the number of women entrepreneurs in leadership positions who are able to influence and advance women economic empowerment and resilience within the floriculture sector in Kenya. The intervention was in line with Ufadhili’s mission of promoting a culture of responsible, ethical and sustainable practices among businesses and other stakeholders. Furthermore, the intervention is also in line with the Horticulture Advocacy Network’s goal of promoting a sustainable horticulture sector in Kenya through cross-sector collaborations. This by addressing the sustainability challenges they face; but also in ensuring that gender equality is mainstreamed, and consequently, enjoying the long term benefits such as; improved productivity, reduced risks and enhanced reputation amongst its various stakeholders.
