Vegetable and fruit prices are projected to continue rising in the coming months, due to the ongoing drought being experienced in most parts of the country.
This has led to a shortage in the vegetable and fruits in the market.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has already pointed that Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks ‘Index increased by 1.66 per cent between December and January. “The year on year food inflation stood at 12.54 per cent in January 2017.”
Britam Asset managers says if the drought continues to prevail the sector will have an impact to the economy, “Since Agricultural output contributes roughly 25%-30% of Kenya’s GDP, a prolonged drought could significantly affect GDP growth in 2017.”
Across major towns in Kenya, a 126-kilogram bag of cabbages is retailing at an average price is KES 4,410 in Embu which is the highest and lowest in Nakuru at KES1,200.
Kales on the other hand are being sold as follows for a 50-kilogram bag: KES 3,000 in Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru respectively, KES 2,500 in Eldoret and Kitale, KES 1,650 in Nairobi and KES 1,500 in Embu and Kakamega.
Tomatoes have also become scarce in the market and a 64-kilogram bag is being sold highest in Kitale at KES 6,000 and lowest in Embu at KES 3,000, a difference of KES 3,000. Other parts of the country have the following market prices: KES5,800 in Eldoret and Mombasa, KES 5,500 in Kisumu, KES 4,500 in Nairobi, and KES 4,000 in Nakuru and kakamega respectively
Here is a summary of a number of different commodities in the groceries market on selected towns across the country:
The fruits market too is performing averagely in terms of market prices and a variety of different fruits are available in some town. A 57-kilogram bag of passion fruits is retailing as follows: 6,200 shillings in Embu, 5,000 shillings in Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru respectively, 4,400 shillings in Kitale, 3,155 shillings in Eldoret and 3,000 shillings in Kisumu.
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