[Published: Wednesday April 21 2010]
Ash flight ban hits Zambia farms
Lusaka, 20 April-(ANA)-Zambia's flower and vegetable industry is losing about $150,000 (£98,000) a day because of the volcanic ash over Europe that has grounded flights.
Farm workers in Kenya have already been sent home as harvesting has stopped because of the flight ban.
Colin Rhoda, head of the Zambia Export Growers Association (Zega), told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the flight cancellations have had a "major impact" on the industry.
Zambia exports 120 to 150 tonnes of flowers and vegetables to Europe a week.
"All of that at the moment, we are having to throw away because we rely totally on air freight services out of Zambia," said Mr Rhoda. (ANA)
FA/ANA/20 April 2010------ |