As a majority of Kenyans grapple with the high cost of living, high fuel prices, and a surge in the price of daily commodities like flour and sugar, it is not all doom and gloom as potato consumers in Murang’a County continue to enjoy low prices for the commodity.
Consequently, many households have now re-incorporated potatoes, which are a near staple food for the majority of homesteads in the central region, back into their daily menus.
In June, a 50-kilogramme bag of Irish potatoes was retailing at between Sh. 6500 and Sh. 7500, while a two-kilogramme tin was retailing at Sh. 200 to Sh. 250.
However, currently, a 50-kilogramme bag is retailing at Sh. 2500, while a two-kilogramme tin is down to Sh. 100.
Joyce Akinyi, a casual labourer in Muranga, observes that the high cost of living has become bearable due to the low prices of farm produce in the markets.
“With Sh. 100, I am able to purchase some potatoes, a large cabbage that is going for as low as Sh. 20, some tomatoes, which are now retailing at as low as Sh. 20 per kilo, and some carrots, making a complete meal for my three school-going children,” she says excitedly.
“Previously, we could not afford to have the potatoes with every meal as the price was too high,” she adds.
However, For Rosemary Wambui, a potato seller at Mukuyu’s Murang’a market, the influx of the commodity has seen a reduction in her profit margins, a confirmation of the law of demand and supply in a free market economy.
“The supply is high as there has been a steady increase in the produce from the farm for more than a month now, and if you look around this market, hundreds of people are stocking the potatoes as compared to when the price was high,” she said.
“With such an oversupply, the consumers are spoilt for choice, and we find ourselves sometimes selling the 2-kilo tin for as low as sh. 80 to avoid dead stock since potatoes can be highly perishable,” Wambui added.
“A few months ago, only a few like me could stock the potatoes, and the buyers would still buy them for as much as Sh. 1200 for the 20-kilogramme tin because the supply was very low,” she noted.
Wambui decries that selling a 50kg bag right now remains a tall order since the market is already flooded with the commodity, and this, coupled with the high transportation cost, has significantly reduced the profit margin.
By Florence Kinyua
