Kenyans Lied to as Tomatoes Shamefully Rot in Farms in Some Parts of the Country

Farmers are frowning over rotting tomatoes in their farms despite the latest reports by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) showing that the prices have improved across various counties.

According to KNBS, tomato prices increased by 11 percent, 10 shillings increase from 91 to 101 shillings in March 2017.

Farmers in Moiben, Uasin Gishu county had hoped to reap fortunes with their produce but with the tomatoes rotting in their farms, there is nothing much to hope for. They have directed their distress to lack of markets with some citing how intermediaries have drove them to realizing unfathomable losses.

“Buyers are biased. They are exploiting us by only picking the best tomatoes from the lot and tossing away the rest,” Kevin Kipchirchir, a farmer in Kabimoi told The Standard.

The farmers claim that the middlemen will sometimes buy half the number of crates they harvest leaving them helpless with the rest. The roads and the distance to the nearest market, Eldoret town, doesn’t favor them either.

The roads are impassable and those with vehicles refuse to let their cars leave home. This has forced the farmers to only depend on the unreliable middlemen.

This comes when various parts of the country are still experiencing rains, which are worsening the case. Notably, this crisis will not affect tomato farmers only. Other farm produces like vegetables are susceptible as well.

There is an urgent need for implementing measures that will enable farmers sell their products to the right people not to mention being able to make it to the market in time before they incur losses.

The farmers have urged the county government to construct tomato processing plants in the region to ensure their tomatoes have value in the market. They say the plants will give them power over the middlemen, especially if there were SACCOs for their produce.

Meanwhile as KNBS claim the prices have improved, farmers have nothing to celebrate about. Other urban dwellers are witnessing the wrath of increased tomato prices for shortages.