WAIST DEEP IN A RIVER - DYING OF THIRST

I come from the land of plenty, where people starve. I live in the land of little, where people die from excesses. The irony is or would be hilarious if, on both sides, people were not dying. Last year at this time, able Kenyans were buying relief food for transportation to drought stricken areas where the rains had failed. Images of dead livestock, emaciated children and listless women filled the large supermarkets where huge boxes marked “Donations” and “Red Cross” stood waiting to be filled with the one or two extra things that those who shop in such places would deposit on their way out for the supermarkets to transport away. This year, able Kenyans are buying relief food for transportation to flood stricken areas where the rains have arrived with a vengeance. Images of villages washed away, children and women on the tin roofs of flooded houses... you can see where this is going. And yes, the generosity of people knows no bounds for once again, they are donating food to be transported to these areas. Meanwhile, in a market somewhere in Europe, the planes will be delivering their daily consignment of flowers (according to the Kenya Flower Council, Kenya produces about 35% of Europe’s cut and ornamental flowers).(1) In the UK, more than 30% of Kenya’s fresh horticultural produce [French beans, snow peas, sugar snaps etc] will be up for sale.(2) This, by the way, is a good thing. Anyone will tell you that the farms, pack houses, airports, carton manufacturing factories etc provide vital employment for otherwise unemployed people. And it is that stark a choice for many in Kenya. Either work in the freezing conditions of the pack houses or starve. Now, just before you pull out either your cheque book or your hanky in indignation consider this; that while there are people starving in one part of the country, two hundred miles away, others are harvesting food that will not make it to the plates of the European consumer, and this is where the real irony is. The strict EU standards coupled by the aesthetic requirements of the discerning European customer combine to ensure that of all the fresh produce harvested, only about 25%-40% will make it to the airports. The rest will constitute “reject”. Produce which is unpalatable to the European largely due to looks – too stumpy; a day overgrown; too long; too wide... now what happens to this food? Most of it gets thrown away or given to animal rearers as fodder. The stuff that makes it to the supermarkets is way, way below the standards even of the rejects, yet it is often priced so high, it is still beyond the reach of the average Kenyan. Why not sell it cheaper? Well, for one, the African palate may not be used to snow peas and sugar snaps. In any event the high costs of storage, etc would not allow for a lesser profit margin. Now, let us get a little practical here. It is not a business savvy idea for the horticulture companies to pack and resell the produce to the starving Kenyans – the cost of packaging, transportation and marketing would far outweigh any returns, let alone profit. It does not make sense to give it away to those starving 200 miles away. The cost of transportation in the cool or refrigerated trucks that would ensure quality control would eat into the companies’ profits. That would simply not be sensible, now would it? What about the industry as a whole? Through its associations, why don’t the horticultural exporters organise for the food to be transported to these areas? Well, first like I said, there is the issue of profit margins. Secondly, that would require consensus, co-operation and a fair amount of logistical planning amongst a group not particularly well renowned for their co-operative abilities even when these threaten fundamentals such as pricing, airway contracts. It may help if they had some tax incentives but hey, that may itself create more tax evasion loopholes than actual people fed. Plus who would lead the initiative? Who would co-ordinate things? How would accountability be ensured? How would any sanctions agreed upon be enforced against those who did not pull their weight? Of course, a group could always volunteer. It would make for great marketing if nothing else. Plus a feel good factor. And of course let us not forget, lots more children would go to sleep with at least one meal. Still, is that not too utopian, given that we are talking about Kenyan businesses? Does it seem sensible? How about donating some of the food to the tens if not hundreds of little children’s homes scattered in the city, the many internally displaced peoples’ camps, the old peoples’ homes, even the slums? Oh dear, am I getting too impractical now? Well, if industry will not do anything, why doesn’t government? Ah yes, the government. That nebulous entity that ought to be the saviour of all people, panacea of all wrong. What should it do? Confiscate the snow peas from the pack houses? Mobilise trucks to take the food? Now does that seem sensible? And so, millions starve. Millions are spent buying food for the starving until the shoppers get “charity fatigue”. And I get to have quality French beans on my plate tonight while admiring my white and mauve variegated Kenyan carnations. To assuage any pangs of guilt I have? Oh, I have none. After all, I donate regularly to various international aid organisations and charities that assist poor starving Africans. Cruel? No, just sensible. Or is it? THOUGHT FOR THE DAY To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection – J H Poincare ... and action – R Ngamau 1. http://www.kenyaflowercouncil.org/floricultureinkenya.php 2. http://www.epzakenya.com/UserFiles/File/Horticulture.pdf