Currently, Kenya’s flower industry currently has at least 100,000 people in its employment. The reason for this initiative is that the British government gives the explanation that buying flowers from developing countries like Kenya will both create jobs and reduce poverty.
In short, the British government deems this as a win-win situation. The Romantics get to by roses for their lovers. The developing countries have more jobs created and the level of poverty reduced.
In addition to creating more jobs in Kenya, a new study recently released says that Kenyan roses that are exported to Britain produced fewer emissions than those roses grown in the greenhouses across Holland.
In a sense, Kenyan roses are more eco-friendly than the roses grown in Holland’s greenhouses due to the greenhouse gas emissions.
Still, there are some criticisms that go along with this. Campaigners say that some of the workers suffer in poor conditions while enduring long hours.
“Everyone can make a difference on Valentine’s Day including to the lives of Kenyan farmers who, given the current political crisis in the country,” according to Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary.
Kenya had been in a state of chaos and unrest since the disputed Presidential elections in which the incumbent Mwai Kibaki was reelected into office. The death toll is at least several hundred.
However, it is argued by poverty campaigners that some of the workers are being exploited.
“Our focus is on workers on these farms, mainly single mothers, who in the run-up to Valentine’s Day work up to 14 hours a day,” according to Paul Collins of War on Want.
“They receive a wage that is not enough to pay for housing and healthcare,” he added.
For that reason, he did not say not to buy Kenyan roses. But, he said to make sure that the roses from Kenya have a Fairtrade label. Buying a rose with that label makes sure that the workers in Kenya’s flower industry get better wages.
Most of the money made by Kenya’s flower industry takes place during Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, where flowers are very common gifts.
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