Boosting Kenya’s Horticultural Export Performance with Lightweight, Returnable, Foldable Crates

The horticulture industry in Kenya is a vital contributor to the country’s economy, with 29.3% of the GDP and 80% of national employment being attributed to the sector. The subsectors of dairy, horticulture, and tea were the leading contributors in 2020, with Kenya being a top exporter of avocados. While mango production decreased in 2020, the export of horticultural produce in 2021 increased by 6%.

However, despite the impressive growth of the horticulture sector in Kenya, stakeholders in the industry still face several challenges that hinder their export performance. These challenges include poor post-harvest handling practices, high transportation costs, and environmental impact, among others.

To address some of these challenges, the use of lightweight, returnable, foldable crates can be a game-changer. These crates offer several benefits, including cost-effectiveness, increased durability, and environmental sustainability. In this article, Silafrica, the leading FMCG plastic packaging solutions provider in East Africa, explains how stakeholders in the horticulture industry can optimize their export performance while reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact.

The horticulture industry in Kenya relies heavily on the use of packaging materials to transport their products to different markets. The traditional packaging materials used are wooden crates, which are expensive and heavy. This leads to high transportation costs and consequently lower profits for farmers and other stakeholders in the horticulture industry. The use of lightweight, returnable, foldable crates can offer a solution to this challenge in the following ways:

Cost-Effectiveness

The use of lightweight, returnable, foldable crates is cost-effective as they are reusable. This means that they reduce the need for constant replacements and, therefore, reduce transportation costs significantly. The crates can be used multiple times, reducing the cost of packaging materials and increasing profits for farmers and other stakeholders in the horticulture industry.

Increased Durability

Lightweight, returnable, foldable crates are made from high-quality plastic materials, making them more durable than traditional packaging materials like wooden crates. This increases the shelf life of horticultural products and reduces losses due to damage during transportation. Additionally, the crates are designed to be stackable, making them easy to transport and store.

Environmental Sustainability

Lightweight, returnable, foldable crates are environmentally-friendly as they can be reused multiple times, reducing the amount of waste generated. Additionally, they can be recycled at the end of their useful life, contributing to environmental sustainability. This reduces the environmental impact of the horticulture industry, making it more sustainable in the long run.

Silafrica is a leading FMCG plastic packaging solutions provider in East Africa that offers a range of packaging solutions to meet the needs of different industries. They offer lightweight, returnable, foldable crates that are designed to meet the unique needs of the horticulture industry. These crates are made from high-quality plastic materials, making them durable and long-lasting. Using them can help stakeholders in the horticulture industry to optimize their export performance while reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact.

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