Baraka Roses has been steadily expanding its farm over the past several years, with its most significant growth currently underway. From growing roses on 33 ha in 2022, the farm is on track to nearly double in size, reaching 57 hectares in 2025. Presently, they are growing roses on 47 hectares and are preparing to offer a more diverse flower portfolio. The expansion is driven by surging demand, though it will enable the farm to meet only 50% of current orders. With no additional space available at the original site in Nyandarua County, Kenya - which is 200 km from Nairobi at an altitude of 2250 meters above sea level - Baraka is actively seeking new land at a similar altitude enabling to fulfill the high number of requests. This is explained by Joram Kanyua, Sales and Marketing Manager at this farm.

Joram Kanyua at the IFTF in Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands.

Expanding flower portfolio
While roses have long been Baraka's hallmark, the company is diversifying its portfolio. "Besides adding new rose varieties, we will also add new types of flowers. We have recently started growing gypsophila, aster, delphinium and ruscus and we are also trialing spray roses. Preliminary trials in spray roses have shown promising results, and if these continue positively, we will seek new acreage, ideally at an altitude of around 2,250 meters, to meet the precise growing conditions required for these flowers." Baraka's commitment to differentiation lies in offering a complete range of flowers, aiming to be a "one-stop shop" for wholesalers and retailers alike. "After Covid, the demand increased sharply from these buyers."

Expanding markets
Besides expanding their assortment, they are also expanding their markets, spreading the risk. Baraka's flowers are already in high demand in the Middle East, Kazakhstan, Europe, and Africa, but they are eager to tap into the Scandinavian, Western European market and even the United States. "We are exploring the options to enter the US as well, as we still believe there is a market for Kenyan flowers there. The pandemic slowed exports from Kenya to the US. Cargo is still not flying directly to the US but will go via Amsterdam."

And fortunately, Baraka is managing to keep its flowers moving globally. "In Kenya, we are dealing with a lack of capacity and high air freight costs. We sell FOB and we are glad to see that our buyers are willing to go the extra mile for our flowers."

High demand
Over the years, the demand increased significantly. In fact, it is currently so high that it is exceeding the supply. Are those buyers new in the market or are they shifting from other farms. According to Kanyua, it is the latter. "We see that a lot of buyers shift from other farms to our farm. Why? I think it is because of the quality of our flowers."

20-day vase life
So what sets their product apart in terms of quality? Joram: "Besides the high altitude we also emphasize our organic practices and use natural fertilizers. By doing this, we have seen improvements in both flower quality and vase life, with blooms lasting up to 20 days post-purchase. This focus on quality has earned Baraka a reputation for providing a product that exceeds expectations."

Valentine's Day production in full swing
For Baraka, Valentine's Day is a critical peak season. By September and October, the farm is fully focused on preparations, with production ramping up to meet the demand. "We are cutting back the crop by the end of November. We strategically schedule a two-month period to maximize the output in time for Valentine's Day as we are already completely sold out."

Outlook
Even with the planned expansion to 57 ha, Baraka Roses will still fall short of meeting the overwhelming demand. As a result, the company is exploring options to rent additional land at a similar altitude. "We are specifically looking for land at the same elevation as our current site, because it allows us to trial future crops, such as spray roses, in ideal growing conditions."

Source: www.floraldaily.com