Cabbage Prices Down To 50 Shillings As Onions Hit 2.3 Percent High

By Lynnet Okumu / Published March 1, 2022 | 10:51 am

KEY POINTS

High return markets in 2019 for Kenya cabbages per kilogram were from exports to Tanzania, Iceland, Oman, France, and the Netherlands.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The prices of cabbages have gone up over the years. Before 2019, 1 kilogram of cabbages was going for USD 0.89 in 2017 and USD 0.83 in 2018. In 2019 the export price changed to USD 0.90 per kilo, by 8.764 percent.

The price of cabbage went down slightly with a kilo averaging 49.82 shillings from 49.96 shillings in January. A kilo of onion, however, increased by 2.298 percent in February 2022.

Cabbage has been the most affordable vegetable at the markets of major cities like Meru, Nairobi, and Kisumu. During rainy seasons, medium-sized cabbages are sold at as low as 10 but are currently costing up to 50 shillings.

During the dry season, however, a cabbage sold at 50 shillings usually costs as high as 100 shillings due to their scarcity as most farmers solely depend on rain-fed agriculture.

High return markets in 2019 for Kenya cabbages per kilogram were from exports to Tanzania, Iceland, Oman, France, and the Netherlands. The Kenya cabbages exports are classified as Fresh or chilled cabbages, kohlrabi, kale, and similar edible brassicas (excluding cauliflowers, headed broccoli, and Brussels sprouts).

The price of onions has, however, been on the rise since December 2021. A spot check in the fresh vegetable market in Nairobi shows that dry onions are retailing at an average market price of 107.83 shillings.

The Onions

The medium-sized onions that went for five shillings are now retailed at 10 shillings at the market. Three small onions are now retailed at 20 shillings as compared to last month when it was five or six onions for twenty shillings.

The price of a small sack of onions (10kg) that was going for 1,000 shillings in November is now 1,200 shillings according to traders at Marikiti market in Nairobi.

Even though there has been a drop in the cost of some commodities, the sad reality is that life is still tough for most Kenyans, and food items are costly due to the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and some other emerging factors such as change demand, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that has hiked the global supply chain.