The glut of arrowroots in Nakuru County has led to a number of farmers hawking their produce on bicycles, as a desperate measure to recoup profits instead of selling to the middlemen at throw-away prices.
Amos Mugo an arrowroot farmer who has resorted to moving from one office to another to hawk his produce, said selling four pieces at Sh.100 was a great relief compared to selling a whole sack to middlemen at only sh.1000.
The chairman of small-scale farmers in the county Bernard Mwenje said, more than ever, farmers irrespective of their status, should consider joining cooperatives and use them as a venue for the marketing of their crops.
He noted that the current scenario where farmers are moving around with tomatoes, arrowroots, and bananas on bicycles or in basins on their heads, was a distressing move that’s unlikely to bare much fruit.
He observed that the gluts were caused by the heavy reliance of rain-fed agriculture that leads to all farmers planting and harvesting at the same time.
Mwenje gave an example of Irish potatoes that were selling at Sh.1200 per debe two months ago, but currently, they are retailing between Sh.400-500, and unfortunately, farmers must sell since they are fast perishable products.
However, he noted that where cooperatives are well managed the high produce is first preserved in cooling rooms, hence reducing the desperation of farmers watching their produce rot or sell at throw-away prices.
He blamed the local elites, who are not farmers for stooping too low as to purchase a debe of potatoes at Sh.400, and yet they are aware that the production cost cannot be recouped. He called for fairness and a humane attitude when purchasing farm produce from poor people.
By Veronica Bosibori
