Why Valentine’s won’t be bed of roses for flower firms

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Earnings from exports of cut flowers declined by 29.5 percent last year. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Economic weakness in Europe and a jump in cargo charges have hit flower firms that were anticipating good returns this Valentine’s season with most of the companies expected to sell roses locally to avoid the exorbitant cost of freight.

Scheduled freighters out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are charging $2.80 this season for a kilo of cargo airlifted to Europe, up from $1.80 previously.

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