| dc.description.abstract | European Union is a lru\ior destination for Kenyan horticultural exports. The EU demands high standards for horticultural exports. It has laid down directives and standards concerning different types of crops and plants. There are additional private standards which are more stringent. Using Kenyan horticultural exports as a case study, an analysis of secondary data, primary data and interactive interviews were used to analyze the negative effects brought about by the implementation of the EU market requirements by local exporters/fanners. Interactive interviews with govemment employees from the Ministry of Agriculture, KEPHJS, Export Promotion Council and FPEAK (private Institution in the horticultural sector) provided vital information which laid down a basis for analyzing the interventions provided for the exporters/farmers.
The results con finned that, the implementation of ED market requirements negatively affects the exporters/farmers. They incur losses due to rejected produce which fail to meet the expectations and they incur high costs while setting up systems to help them cope with the ED demands. WTO has been in the forefront campaigning against bartiers to trade but EU continues to impose Technical barriers to trade inform of standards. The findings also con finned that the role played by the government and private institutions is a facilitative one and they do not in any way object to the demands imposed by the EU unless there is a very unique case in question.
The study concludes that, the exporters have no option but to form strong associations which can front their grievances/interests and form a platfonn for bargaining for favourable trading partnership if they are to survive in this sector which is highly competitive. The study recommends various measures needed to ensure this sector continues to compete and survive in the international trading arena. | en_US |
