Hilda K. Miranyi

Msc. Horticulture

Supervisors Dr. Margaret J. Hutchinson

Dept of Plant Science and Crop Protection, UON.

Dr. Cecilia M. Onyango

Dept of Plant Science and Crop Protection, UON.

Dr. Esther Kimani

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)

Horticulture is among the leading foreign exchange earner

at about ksh. 91.2 billion with floriculture contributing

ksh.44.5 billion (HCDA,2011).

The value of horticultural production stands at Ksh. 205

billion and offers employment directly or indirectly to over

6 million Kenyans.

The EU is the major market for Kenyan cut flowers.

Others are, Russia, U.S.A, Japan, South Africa, Australia

and the United Arab Emirates.

The expansion of trade has brought about the threat of

introduction and spread of quarantine pests.

Thus guidelines and agreements have been set by the

International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the

World Trade Organizations on the application of SPS

Measures.

National Plant protection Organizations (NPPOs) have the

right to regulate imports to achieve an appropriate level of

protection e.g. AQIS import conditions which includes

devitalisation treatment.

Devitalisation is the treatment of cut flowers with a

systemic herbicide especially glyphosate to render the buds

non-viable (cuttings unable to root).

Compliance to the National Plant protection requirements

e.g. AQIS & EU Directives is a challenge for many

developing countries.

For example out of 224,889 tons of horticultural produce

exported 2010/2011, inspectors rejected 129 tons and

gave advice/warning for 138 tons,

123 interception notifications were received from the

importing countries due to presence of quarantine pests

Kenya is keen to expand its exports to the Australia

market but their stringent quarantine requirements has

been an obstacle.

Despite providing the protocol for the treatment, reports

of non-compliance still come in from Australia – 5

exporting companies banned from exporting to Australia

in last 2 years.

The importance of safeguarding Kenya’s export market

cannot be gainsaid.

But with some exporters failing the audit test for the pre-

shipment devitalisation treatment, Kenya risks losing this

potentially lucrative market and a possible alternative to

the traditional EU market.

Out of the 40 accredited devitalisation facilities, 5 have

failed the audit tests in the last two years, leading to a ban

of their export of cut flowers to Australia - great loss of

revenue.

Broad Objective

To improve on levels of compliance of Kenya’s cut flower exports to new markets hence increase in

diversification of markets and revenue.

1. To establish the root cause of Kenyan flower exports

frequent failure to meet AQIS Requirement.

2. To establish the level of implementation of the AQIS

devitalisation protocol amongst approved firms.

3. To determine the effects of Round up and Glypro

formulations of Glyphosate on the longevity of cut flowers

(Rosa hybrida and Hypericam spp.)

4. To compare the effectiveness of Round up and Glypro

formulations of Glyphosate devitalisation treatment at

different dipping depths on rose cut flowers.

Exporters are not fully aware of the AQIS Quarantine

requirements.

The AQIS accredited facilities are not implementing the

specifications of the AQIS devitalisation protocol with

precision.

Devitalisation treatment does not affect the vase life of cut

flowers.

Varying formulation of glyphosate at different dipping

depths does not affect the devitalisation treatment effect.

1. The survey;

A survey will be carried out among the AQIS accredited

companies located in the Rift Valley, Central and the

Nairobi Provinces. Out of the 40 accredited exporter

companies, 20 will be picked at random as a representative

sample for the study.

A questionnaire with both open-ended and closed questions

shall be used. The survey will determine the level of

implementation of the devitalisation protocol and awareness

of the import conditions of the target market.

2. Laboratory experiment to assess vase life after

devitalisation treatment;

This will be carried out at the Oserian pack house at

Naivasha in the Rift Valley.

fresh cut roses (variety cream prophyta) and Hypericum

inodorum Flair variety harvested at mature bud stage

will picked at random after preparation for export

120 stems of 60 cm length of each variety will be used.

Two glyphosate formulations (RoundupTM (360g

glyphosate /l) and GlyproTM with (480g glyphosate /l)

Preparation of the dipping solution (AQIS T9273 (2011)

protocol )

Concentrate calculation will be done by the given formula

5.4 x volume of solution required (ml)/Active ingredient

(a.i).

For 20 litres solution of Roundup formulation glyphosate

(360g/l), 300ml of Roundup concentrate will be added

For Glypro (480g/l) formulation, 225 ml will be added to form 20 litres solution.

The vase life experiment;

Sixty stems of each variety will be dipped to a depth of 55

cm at a room temperature (20 ± 1oC) for 20 minutes in the

roundup 360glyphosate/l formulation solution. The same

procedure will be followed for Glypro (480g glyphosate/l).

The flowers will then be removed from the solution and

allowed to drip off the solution.

Of the treated stems, 20 stems of each variety will then be

kept in flower vases with ordinary deionized water at room

temperature (20 ± 2oC) and at 60% RH. This will be

replicated 3 times with untreated control.

The experiment will be factorial in a CRD design

Data to be collected will be:

- discoloration of petals,

- no. of stems with bent heads,

- no of stems with fallen leaves,

- dead stems and petal fall.

The vase life of the inflorescence will be considered

terminated when 50% of the open flowers have wilted or

exhibited the above signs (Redman et al, 2001).

The propagatability Test

This will be carried out at the Oserian flower company farm

on 60 cm rose cut flowers using the two glyphosate

formulations at four dipping depths (25, 35, 45 and 55)

following the devitalisation protocol and a control

the treated stems will then be cut for propagation test.

Fifteen cuttings with at least three nodes and one leaf from

each treatment will be dipped in a rooting hormone

(commercial Auxin – Indole -3-Acetic Acid) before being

planted in trays of coccus rooting media.

The cuttings will be planted in the media up to a depth of

2-3 cm.

They will be kept in the rooting media for 30 days in the

green house at optimal propagation conditions of 25 -

30oC and 100% RH. The treatments will be replicated

three times.

The experimental layout will be Factorial in a Complete

Randomized Design.

A repeat of the same experiment shall be done.

Data to be collected will be:

The treatment effectiveness will be determined by the

cutting’s inability to root.

Data to be collected will be:

- Number of cuttings with roots

May opt to use a score 0 (without roots) and 1 (with

roots)

Survey data management and analysis will be done with aid

of the SPSS statistical program.

Vase life and Propagatability experiments data will be

subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) by Genstat

statistical software (Payne, et al., 2006)

EXPECTED OUTPUT:

1. Reduced levels of non-compliance since we hope the

results will provide a documented negotiating tool.

2. Improved cut flower export to Australia and other equally

stringent markets.

3. A n informed industry.

ACTIVITY MONTH OF YR 2012 YEAR 2013

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J

Literature Review

Proposal writing

Questionair prep. & testing

Survey & data collection

Vase life experiment

Propagatability Experiment

Data analysis

Thesis writing

Submission and Defence

ITEM DESCRIPTION ESTIMATED COST (KSH)

Transport Self and Enumerators 25,000.00

Communication (Air time & Internet) 10,000.00

Enumerators 6 Enumerators for 5 days 30,000.00

Laboratory requirements Formulation purchase, and

other consumables or

equipments

55,000.00

Cut Flowers Roses and Hypericums 20,000.00

Labour Field and technical assistance 20,000.00

Lunches 6 Enumerators and self

For 10 days

17,500.00

Questionnaire preparation Printing and photocopying - 8,000.00

Proposal and Thesis preparation Stationary, printing and

binding

45,000.00

Miscellaneous To cater for unforeseen costs 10,000.00

GRAND TOTAL 240,500.00