Kenya's sisal export earnings jumped six per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, reaching a whopping Kes. 1.2 billion.
This happened despite the pandemic,
The gradual recovery of the Kenyan economy has revitalised a growing sector on the coast and in the interior.
According to Kenya's Directorate of Fibre Crops, more than 7.5  thousand tonnes of sisal was exported, which is a record for the sector. The gains are also the result of rising prices.
Surprisingly, Nigeria is the largest single importer, with 23% of the demand, closely followed by China, the market in other West and North West African countries such as Ghana and Morocco is also flourishing, while in Europe the largest buyer is Spain.
Having been the first to suffer the pandemic and also largely defeated it, China resumed its trade earlier. A total of 23 countries export Kenyan sisal.
Cultivation of the agave fibrous product is widespread mainly in the coastal region with a total of five major crops: Vipingo (Kilifi), Voi, Taita and Kwale.
The comforting fact is that today, thanks to the great demand, the local plantation market is not only the preserve of the big growers who are foreigners or rich local landowners, but also small local farmers have started to plant and trade it, opening up new markets to earn a living from it. Thus finding healthy and profitable employment.
According to Fibre Crops, demand for sisal is set to rise.
Good news then for the kind of "green" market and economy that Kenya needs in order to grow in income for small and medium-sized businesses, and in wage labour without the need for construction (wild or otherwise) and invasive and polluting industries.