Horticulture farmers from the North Rift region have a reason to smile following the inauguration of the pilot cargo flight from the Eldoret International Airport destined to the European market.
The Ethiopian Airlines flight was inaugurated on Tuesday, in an event that saw the first 5 tons of cut flowers from Ponacol Flower farm in Kitale, Trans Nzoa, transported to Brussels, Belgium.
Speaking during the colorful event, Eldoret International Airport manager Walter Akong said the launch of the cargo flight will enable horticulture farmers to easily access the international market that will, in turn, guarantee them better returns and create more job opportunities.
“The airport has now begun its usefulness. We’re beginning exports and this is something that will continue happening all through as long as there are products to be exported,” noted Akong.
Horticulture farmers have been incurring extra costs to transport their produce to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for exportation, but with the cargo flight now in Eldoret, it will cut on that cost.
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo Legal Director for East Africa Richard Yegon on his part said each flight will be carrying up to 36 tons of horticulture products from the Eldoret International Airport.
“We as Ethiopian airlines are happy to inaugurate the first flight to carry cargo from Eldoret. From next week and going forward, we want to see this aircraft full of flowers,” Yegon noted.
The Eldoret International Airport, while working closely with flower and horticultural farmers in the North Rift region, aims to be exporting at least 35 tons per load by March next year.
