The onset of the long rains season which continues to hit most parts of the country has come with a negative impact on tomato farmers who are experiencing great loses as the commodity is being harvested with no market.
Tomato farmers in Molo and Laikipia have reported lack of market for their harvested produce thus being exploited by middlemen forcing them to sell tomatoes at throwaway prices, yet the same middlemen end up selling to major town at double the prices they have used to buy.
A 64-kilogram bag of tomatoes is being retailed at 5,600 shillings in Eldoret, 5,500 shillings in Kisumu, 5,120 shillings in Nairobi, 5000 shillings in Nakuru, Kitui and Isiolo respectively, 4,350 shillings in Mombasa and 4,000 shillings in Busia.
A 142-kilogram bag of Spring Onions, on the other hand, is being sold as follows in selected towns: 3,600 shillings in Mombasa, 3,300 shillings in Kitui, 2,500 shillings in Kisumu and Nairobi respectively, 1,200 shillings in Eldoret and 1,060 shillings in Nakuru.
The table below gives a summary of the same:
On the fruit market, a 126-kilogram bag of mangoes is being sold highest in Nakuru where it is going at 3,000 shillings and lowest in Kisumu and Eldoret respectively at 2,100 shillings.
A 90-kilogram bag of Avocado is retailing as follows: 3,500 shillings in Mombasa, 2,400 shillings in Nairobi and Isiolo respectively, 2,200 shillings in Nakuru, 2,000 shillings in Eldoret, 1,800 shillings in Kisumu and 800 shillings in Kitui.
Here is a summary of the same:
