![\"waterusagesource\"](\"https:\/\/datablog.cde.unibe.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/waterusagesource.png\")
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Like other countries in East Africa, Kenya faces seasonal water shortages that make it important to use and distribute water in an optimal way. One of Kenya\u2019s biggest water users is its growing commercial horticulture sector, which exports fruits, vegetables, and especially flowers to Europe and elsewhere. Since 2003, water usage for commercial horticulture has almost doubled in CDE’s study area, accompanied by a shift from using river water to using more stored water (+16% points) and groundwater (+14% points). In sum, although the sector\u2019s overall water use during the dry season has increased, its dependence on river water \u2013 both as a share and in absolute terms \u2013 has fallen in favour of storage water and groundwater. Economically, the horticulture sector is a big success: it is Kenya\u2019s second largest foreign exchange earner and a major employer. In 2014, for example, the sector contributed EUR 1.7 billion to the economy, with 42% of the profits coming from exports. Neighbouring countries in East Africa have sought to emulate this model. But its economic benefits must be weighted carefully against the relevant environmental and social risks, including competition over precious water and pesticide-related dangers to worker health.<\/p>\n The interactive graph below shows Kenya’s trade partners and volumes for cut flowers, plants, etc. The data are based on The United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade), and the graphical representation was made by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (UK). Kenya’s exports of cut flowers, plants etc. increased from USD 100 million in 2000 to USD 500 million in 2013 with the Netherlands buying more than half of these exports.<\/p>\n
\nUse of captured and stored rainwater and floodwater for irrigation should be continued and expanded. But increasing commercial use of groundwater<\/em> is risky \u2013 it may constitute an unsustainable shift from one fragile natural water source to another.<\/p>\n