Passsionate Flowers with a Passionate Story

March 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Oserian believes in environmental sustainability and that is why the company   recognized the need for the preservation of Lake Naivasha some 20 years ago. Our farming concepts are therefore centered on the conservation of the Lake.

Having migrated to total drip irrigation and hydroponics many years ago, we have seen the result of saving vast quantities of water and the conservation of the land from the use of the water conservation method.

The use of hydroponics by Oserian as opposed to overhead irrigation to water our flowers ensures that we recycle the water using modern climatic control systems like water filtration and wetlands systems. This ensures that the water that returns to the lake is cleaner than the water that comes out.

Oserian is also a firm believer of good agricultural practices and that is why we are currently the world’s largest Integrated Pest Management farm. We use zero miticides and do not use Class 1 chemicals in our day to day farming.

We are leading the efforts to conserve Lake Naivasha and this is evident from the fact that only 2.9 per cent of our land is used for flower growing and 97.1 per cent is dedicated to wildlife conservation. The environmental degradation of the surrounding areas, denuded of game and vegetation, is enough proof of what would have happened to this area if Oserian did not exist.

Oserian is actively involved in the pursuit of a holistic management plan for the lake, Mr. Peter Zwager, the chairman of the Group was pivotal in spearheading the formation of the Lake Naivasha Growers Group( LNGG), a self auditing body empowered to ensure Good Agricultural Practices and Accountability.

The Lake Naivasha Growers Group, which does not allow members who farm within Riparian Land, was pivotal in the formation of the Kenya Flower Council. With its active involvement in LANAWRUA is helping to empower the WRUA through the Lake Naivasha Collective Immediate Action Plan, sponsored by WWF to have a Sub Catchment Management Plan as gazetted in the Water Act and a Master Plan for the Lake Naivasha Basin supported by the Government.

As we support the sustainability of the lake we are also very keen in the conservation of all our environs, as evidenced by our initiative in tree planting and reforestation in the land surrounding us. Our preservation efforts have seen the company planting thousands of indigenous trees and setting up tree nurseries to supply tree samplings to the community, and giving them education on the benefits of tree planting and preservation.

As members of LANWRUA, Oserian has pioneered in the promotion of the Payment for Environment Schemes, where farmers are given tree saplings and are paid to plant and preserve them. This helps to stop the planting of cash crops close to the river banks, thus preventing erosion and run-off to the lake.

Oserian is credited to Fair Trade, Max Havelaar, LEAF, BOPP, Eurep-Gap, COOPERINC, and WWF is also accredited to Kenya Flower Council; acknowledged and licensed by National Environmental Management Authority and Kenya Bureau of Standards.

Oserian is the world’s largest floricultural Fair Trade farm and the world’s largest user of geothermal energy for safe environmental growing of roses. This is made possible by our employees whom we offer education, health and economic stability.

We have a policy committed to the protection of the environment and wildlife through our Oserian Wildlife Corridor, were we practice sustainable utilization of natural resources, minimization of pollution and waste and conservation of indigenous flora and fauna.

The local community has benefited from our investment and we have assisted them with sinking of bore-holes and water tanks, which have kept away a large population of livestock from Riparian land, preventing the cattle waste from entering the lake and the cattle from damaging and denuding the vegetation.

Oserian is proud to have undertaken and spearheaded a number of initiatives towards environmental sustainability as we believe in undertaking the best practice in horticultural production. Oserian is committed to a future with greener, cleaner, efficient production throughout its supply-chain by investing in environmentally friendly technological innovations.

WWF has acknowledged Oserian Development Company Conservation Best Practices and Champions of Conservation, and has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the company to sustain environmental conservation.

For further details visit
Website - http://www.oserian.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/OserianDevelopmentCompanyLtd
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/OserianDevLtd
LinkedIn - http://ke.linkedin.com/in/oseriandevltd
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/OserianDevLtd

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Oserian is the largest and most technically advanced production facility of flowers in Kenya, producing year round consistent quality flower products with a strong track record in sustainable, Fair trade farming and environmental conservation.