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Each general worker at Tambuzi takes care of 28 beds of roses "“ this includes harvesting, de-suckering, cleaning, re-bending (to stimulate new shoots to grow) and weeding.
Tambuzi is unique in many ways "“ it is the only supplier of traditional SCENTED garden roses in Kenya and is the only large scale flower farm in an area dominated by small family farms mostly growing maize intercropped with beans and potatoes. Here, as throughout much of Africa, water is becoming one of the most critical natural resource issues with climate change causing a reduction in the amount and the pattern of rainfall.
As their "˜plots' become increasing less viable due to lack of water and being split between family members, local employment has enabled the farmers to work whilst remaining in their home villages. Tambuzi employs over 500 people on a full time basis, the majority of whom live close enough to walk to the farm.
It is estimated that in Kenya, over 500,000 people, including over 100,000 flower farm employees depend on the floriculture industry. Kenya is the lead exporter of rose cut flowers to the European Union (EU) with a market share of 38%.
